Freezing and Melting of 3D Complex Plasma Structures under Microgravity Conditions Driven by Neutral Gas Pressure Manipulation

Journal Article · Fri May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.106.205001· OSTI ID:21538352

Khrapak, S A; Klumov, B A ^[1]; Huber, P; Thomas, H M; Ivlev, A V; Morfill, G E ^[1]; Molotkov, V I; Lipaev, A M; Naumkin, V N; Petrov, O F; Fortov, V E ^[2]; Malentschenko, Yu; Volkov, S ^[3]

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1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik, D-85741 Garching (Germany)
2. Joint Institute for High Temperatures, 125412 Moscow (Russian Federation)
3. Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, 141160 Star City (Russian Federation)

Freezing and melting of large three-dimensional complex plasmas under microgravity conditions is investigated. The neutral gas pressure is used as a control parameter to trigger the phase changes: Complex plasma freezes (melts) by decreasing (increasing) the pressure. The evolution of complex plasma structural properties upon pressure variation is studied. Theoretical estimates allow us to identify the main factors responsible for the observed behavior.

• OSTI ID: 21538352
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 106, Issue 20; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.205001; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
FREEZING
MELTING
PLASMA
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS