Simulation study of spheroidal dust gains charging: Applicable to dust grain alignment

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2338568· OSTI ID:20860229

Zahed, H; Sobhanian, S; Mahmoodi, J; Khorram, S ^[1]

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1. Physics Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, Iran and Department of Atomic and Molecular Physics, University of Tabriz, Tabriz (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

The charging process of nonspherical dust grains in an unmagnetized plasma as well as in the presence of a magnetic field is studied. It is shown that unlike the spherical dust grain, due to nonhomogeneity of charge distribution on the spheroidal dust surface, the resultant electric forces on electrons and ions are different. This process produces some surface charge density gradient on the nonspherical grain surface. Effects of a magnetic field and other plasma parameters on the properties of the dust particulate are studied. It has been shown that the alignment direction could be changed or even reversed with the magnetic field and plasma parameters. Finally, the charge distribution on the spheroidal grain surface is studied for different ambient parameters including plasma temperature, neutral collision frequency, and the magnitude of the magnetic field.

• OSTI ID: 20860229
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 13; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALIGNMENT
CHARGE DENSITY
CHARGE DISTRIBUTION
COLLISIONS
DUSTS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
GAIN
ION TEMPERATURE
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
SURFACES