Coulomb Clusters in Axial Magnetic Field

Abstract

Abstract. The rotation of Coulomb clusters with different numbers of micron-sized particles is observed in an inductively coupled dusty plasma in the presence of an axial magnetic field. The rotation is found to be dependent on the particle number and configuration. Clusters with smaller numbers of particles require a higher magnetic field strength in order to initiate the rotation, the threshold magnetic field at which the cluster begins to rotate being proportional to the square of the number of particles in the cluster. The angular velocity of clusters increases and the radius of the clusters decreases as the magnetic field strength is increased. The relation between angular velocity and magnetic field is dependent on the number of particles in the cluster.