Laser-induced rocket force on a microparticle in a complex (dusty) plasma

Journal Article · Wed Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3525254· OSTI ID:21532134

Nosenko, V; Ivlev, A V; Morfill, G E ^[1]

---

1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Extraterrestrische Physik, D-85741 Garching (Germany)

The interaction of a focused powerful laser beam with micron-sized melamine formaldehyde (MF) particles was studied experimentally. The microspheres had a thin palladium coating on their surface and were suspended in a radio frequency argon plasma as a single layer (plasma crystal). A particle hit by the laser beam usually accelerated in the direction of the laser beam, consistent with the radiation pressure force mechanism. However, random-direction acceleration up to the speeds on the order 1 m/s was sometimes observed. Rocket-force mechanism is proposed to account for the random-direction acceleration. Similar, but much less pronounced, effect was also observed for MF particles without palladium coating.

• OSTI ID: 21532134
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3525254; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ARGON
COATINGS
FORMALDEHYDE
LASER RADIATION
MELAMINE
MICROSPHERES
PALLADIUM
PLASMA
PLASMA GUNS
RADIATION PRESSURE
ALDEHYDES
AMINES
AZINES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
METALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM METALS
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRIAZINES