Simulation on cluster structuring of dust particles confined in a plasma

摘要

The screening effect on 3D structure of charged dust particles confined electrostatically in a plasma is studied using a particle simulation. We find that a few hundred particles form multi-shell structure in the presence of screened Coulomb potential, and that the mean radius of the shell is given by R_(s∞) (1+D_∞/Λ_D) exp(—D_∞/Λ_D), where R_(s∞) is the radius of the sth shell observed in the bare Coulomb potential, Λ_D is the screening length, and D_∞ is the interparticle distance on the sth shell for Λ_D → ∞.