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Controlling the charge of dust particles in a plasma afterglow by timed switching of an electrode voltage

Journal Article · · Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics
Abstract

A method is demonstrated for controlling the charge of a dust particle in a plasma afterglow, allowing a wider range of outcomes than an earlier method. As in the earlier method, the dust particles are located near an electrode that has a DC voltage during the afterglow. Here, that DC voltage is switched to a positive value at a specified delay time, instead of maintaining a constant negative voltage as in the earlier method. Adjusting the timing of this switching allows one to control the residual charge gradually over a wide range that includes both negative and positive values of charge. For comparison, only positive residual charges were attained in the earlier method. We were able to adjust the residual charge from about −2000  e to +10 000  e , for our experimental parameters (8.35  µ m particles, 8 mTorr argon pressure, and a DC voltage that was switched from −150 V to +125 V within the first two milliseconds of the afterglow). The plasma conditions near the dust particles changed from ion-rich to electron-rich, when the electrode was switched from cathodic to anodic. Making this change at a specified time, as the electrons and ions decay in the afterglow, provides this control capability. These results also give insight into the time development of a dust particle’s charge in the afterglow, on a sub-millisecond time scale.

Research Organization:
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Army Research Office (ARO); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0014566
OSTI ID:
1984906
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2001522
OSTI ID: 1974664
Journal Information:
Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics Journal Issue: 37 Vol. 56; ISSN 0022-3727
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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