On the use of microscopic test particles for non-conventional plasma sheath diagnostics

摘要

The idea to use microscopic test particles as electrostatic and thermal probes in complex plasmas has been consequently developed during the last years^1–3. Due to the force balance of the particles, however, it is very difficult to change their position in the plasma sheath without changing the external and internal plasma parameters. Recently, experiments have been performed where the confined particles are affected by additional centrifugal force⁴ or by laser radiation⁵.