Confining instabilities in a complex plasma S. V. Vladimirov, A. A Confining instabilities in a complex plasma S.V. Vladimirov, A.A. Samarian, J. Albreht, B.W. James, S.A. Maiorov, N.F. Cramer Stability of the vertical and horizontal confinement of colloidal dust particles levitating in a plasma appears as an interplay of the external confining forces as well as the interparticle interactions and plasma collective processes.
Theory: Levitation and dynamics one particle One particle: levitation One particle: oscillatory motion Vertical and horizontal oscillations in the external potentials
Levitation and dynamics of two particles Two particles: various arrangements Two particles: various types of motions Horizontal and vertical oscillations (inter-particle interactions: Debye potential and wake potential) Planar-two-rotation
Simulation: Wake potential of one particle MD simulations The ion focus The plasma potential
Simulation: Ion focusing by two particles The normalized ion density for three different separations D between two dust grains. The distances are in Lx = 4.1lDe
Simulation: Ion focusing by two particles Change of the ion focus with the changing distance
Simulation: Plasma potential of two particles The plasma potential of two particles The distances are in Lx = 4.1lDe. The potential well (region B) is formed behind the dust grain and starts to form between the grains when the separation exceeds the electron Debye length.
Simulation: Plasma potential of two particles Change of the potential with the changing distance
Simulation: Charges of two particles in the ion flow
Theory: Balance of forces in the horizontal and vertical directions Force balance in the horizontal direction Force balance in the vertical direction (no wake) Force balance in the vertical direction (with wake)
Theory: Oscillations of particles aligned horizontally Horizontal oscillations in phase Horizontal oscillations counter phase
Theory: Oscillations of particles aligned horizontally Vertical oscillations in phase Vertical oscillations counter phase
Theory: Oscillations of particles aligned vertically Vertical oscillations in phase Vertical oscillations counter phase
Theory: Oscillations of particles aligned vertically Horizontal oscillations in phase Horizontal oscillations counter phase
Theory: Stability diagram for the levitation
Experiment: Levitation of two particles Voltage applied to the ring electrode 0 V -3 V -6 V -9 V -6 V -3 V 0 V
Experiment: Various types of two particles behavior Low pressure: small oscillations Medium pressure & power: oscillations in phase High pressure & power: orbital motion
Experiment: Dependence of parameters g on the experimental conditions
Experiment: oscillations of three particles Small random oscillations String orbits on a conical surface String orbits on a biconical surface Rim orbital motion
Experiment: Oscillations of three particles Pressure: 36mTorr RF discharge of 300mV at 15 MHz Middle particle oscillates with highest amplitude Angular frequency in the order of 1Hz Particles rotate on biconical surface
Experiment: Orbital motions of three particles Pressure: 23.8mTorr RF discharge of 520mV at 15 MHz Rim orbital motion Angular frequency less than 1Hz
Experiment: Interparticle distances for three particles RF discharge voltage: 180 mV RF discharge voltage: 160 mV RF discharge voltage: 140 mV RF discharge voltage: 120 mV RF discharge voltage: 100 mV RF discharge voltage: 80 mV