Inter-grain coupling and grain charge in dusty plasma Coulomb crystals

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.56671· OSTI ID:700415

Smith, M A; Goodrich, J; Mendis, D A ^[1]

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1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)

We have studied the lattice structure and grain charge of dusty plasma Coulomb crystals formed in rectangular conductive grooves as a function of plasma temperature and density. The crystal appears to be made of mutually repulsive columns of grains confined by the walls of the groove. The columns are oriented along the direction of the electrode sheath electric field. A simple phenomenological model wherein the inter-grain spacing results from an attractive electric field induced dipole-dipole force balanced by a repulsive monopole Coulomb force is consistent with observed features of the Coulomb crystal. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-97ER54444
• OSTI ID: 700415
• Report Number(s): CONF-980456--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 446; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COULOMB FIELD
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DUSTS
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC DIPOLES
PLASMA IMPURITIES