Experimental investigation of flow induced dust acoustic shock waves in a complex plasma

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4960032· OSTI ID:22599988

Bandyopadhyay, P.; Sen, A. ^[1]

---

1. Institute for Plasma Research, Bhat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382428 (India)

We report on experimental observations of flow induced large amplitude dust-acoustic shock waves in a complex plasma. The experiments have been carried out in a Π shaped direct current glow discharge experimental device using kaolin particles as the dust component in a background of Argon plasma. A strong supersonic flow of the dust fluid is induced by adjusting the pumping speed and neutral gas flow into the device. An isolated copper wire mounted on the cathode acts as a potential barrier to the flow of dust particles. A sudden change in the gas flow rate is used to trigger the onset of high velocity dust acoustic shocks whose dynamics are captured by fast video pictures of the evolving structures. The physical characteristics of these shocks are delineated through a parametric scan of their dynamical properties over a range of flow speeds and potential hill heights. The observed evolution of the shock waves and their propagation characteristics are found to compare well with model numerical results based on a modified Korteweg-de-Vries-Burgers type equation.

• OSTI ID: 22599988
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 23, Issue 8; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ARGON
CATHODES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPLEXES
COPPER
DIRECT CURRENT
DUSTS
FLOW RATE
GAS FLOW
GLOW DISCHARGES
KAOLIN
KORTEWEG-DE VRIES EQUATION
PARTICLES
PLASMA
POTENTIALS
SHOCK WAVES
SUPERSONIC FLOW
VELOCITY
WIRES