Coagulation of dielectric dust grains due to variable asymmetric charging
- Fundamental Technologies, L.L.C., 2411 Ponderosa, Lawrence, Kansas 66046 (United States)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 (United States)
Observational evidence of electrical forces acting significantly on small solids is present for both the modern solar system in Saturn's rings and the ancient solar system in chondritic meteorites. It is likely that grain-grain coagulation rates are affected by the distribution of charges on small grains. Plasma particle impacts and photoelectric effects can provide the charges. It appears that some charging is inevitable and that plasma grain interactions need to be evaluated to determine the size of the effect on coagulation rates. We apply the results of our previous charging work to models of the protoplanetary nebula. It is expected that the protoplanetary nebula is weakly ionized except in certain instances and locations such as: solar flares in the interior, ultraviolet radiation at the outer boundary, and during enhanced luminosity of the star. Since the grains we study are non-conducting and show strong dipole moments in flowing plasma, we modify the geometric cross sections to include the effects of flowing plasma on non-conducting grains with plasma mediated shielding. This paper provides results showing how plasma flow affects the processes involved in charging the grains--total charge and charge distribution. We calculate the modifications to the cross sections and subsequent changes in the coagulation rates.
- OSTI ID:
- 21202174
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 446, Issue 1; Conference: 7. workshop on the physics of dusty plasmas, Boulder, CO (United States), 6-9 Apr 1998; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.56659; (c) 1998 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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