Structure of spherical Yukawa clusters: A model for dust particles in dusty plasmas in an isotropic environment
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University, Tsushimanaka 3-1-1, Okayama 700-8530 (Japan)
The structure of spherical clusters composed of Yukawa particles is analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical approaches as a model for dust particles in dusty plasmas in the isotropic environment. The latter condition is expected to be realized under microgravity or by active cancellation of the effect of gravity on the ground. It is found that, at low temperatures, Yukawa particles form spherical shells and, when scaled by the mean distance, the structure is almost independent of the strength of screening including the case of the Coulomb interaction. The positions and populations of shells and the conditions for the change of the number of shells are expressed by simple interpolation formulas. Shells have an approximately equal spacing close to that of triangular lattice planes in the bulk close-packed structures. It is shown that, when the cohesive energy in each shell is properly taken into account, the shell model reproduces the structure of spherical Yukawa clusters to a good accuracy.
- OSTI ID:
- 20706358
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Vol. 72, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.72.036406; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-651X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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