Transport properties of disordered two‐dimensional complex plasma crystal

Journal Article · Wed Jan 03 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Contributions to Plasma Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ctpp.201700111· OSTI ID:1415496

Kostadinova, E. G. ^[1]; Guyton, F. ^[2]; Cameron, A. ^[3]; Busse, K. ^[1]; Liaw, C. ^[4]; Matthews, L. S. ^[1]; Hyde, T. W. ^[1]

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1. Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research and Department of Physics Baylor University Waco Texas USA
2. Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy New York USA
3. Department of Physics Brigham Young University Provo Utah USA
4. Department of Mathematical Sciences University of Delaware Newark Delaware USA

In this study, we numerically investigate the transport properties of a two‐dimensional ( 2D ) complex plasma crystal using diffusion of coplanar dust lattice waves. In the limit where the Hamiltonian interactions can be decoupled from the non‐Hamiltonian effects, we identify two distinct types of wave transport: Anderson‐type delocalization and long‐distance excitation. We use a recently developed spectral approach to evaluate the contribution of the Anderson problem and compare it to the results of the simulation. The benefit of our approach to transport problems is twofold. First, we employ a highly tuneable macroscopic hexagonal crystal, which exhibits many‐body interactions and allows for the investigation of transport properties at the kinetic level. Second, the analysis of the transport problem in 2D is provided using an innovative spectral approach, which avoids the use of scaling and boundary conditions. The comparison between the analytically predicted and numerically observed wave dynamics allows for the study of important characteristics of this open system. In our simulations, we observe long‐distance lattice excitation, which occurs around lattice defects even when the initial perturbation does not spread from the centre to the exterior of the crystal. In the decoupled Hamiltonian regime, this many‐body effect can be attributed to the dust lattice interaction with the plasma environment.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: 1414523; 1740203; 1262031
• OSTI ID: 1415496
• Journal Information: Contributions to Plasma Physics, Journal Name: Contributions to Plasma Physics Vol. 58 Journal Issue: 2-3; ISSN 0863-1042
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English