Effects of electric field on structures and dynamics in a two-dimensional dust dipole particle system

Abstract

Effects of radial electric field on the structures and dynamics of dust dipoles are studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The dipoles' configuration and mean distance to the system center are used to illustrate the structures of the whole system. It is shown that the dipole particles can arrange themselves into ring-like structures in the absence of external electric field, which can gradually transform to vortex, and then to radial arrangement with the increase of the strength of electric field. The trajectories, mean square displacement, and the mean speed in radial and tangential directions of dipoles are investigated to depict the effects of the radial electric filed on the collective motion of dust dipolar particles, which are closely associated with the growth of dust particle, especially for the formation of rod-like and some other complex fractal dust particles.

Particle Growth in an Experimental Dusty Plasma System

“…[17] In addition, in our experiment the electric polarization effect also exists in the uneven charged surface of particles by the influence of electric field of the plasma sheath. [18] The existence of polarization also implies the existence of an attraction between dust particles. Thus, at higher rf power, the particles have more chances to coagulate (or attract) together to form larger size nonspherical particles, such as rod-like and Y shapes in our experiment.…”

“…Thus, at higher rf power, the particles have more chances to coagulate (or attract) together to form larger size nonspherical particles, such as rod-like and Y shapes in our experiment. [9,18] The intensity of the scattered light of the dust par-125201-3 ticles obtained under different rf powers (in Fig. 5) with discharge time is shown in Fig.…”