Externally and self-excited nonlinear waves in a dusty plasma.

POSTER

Abstract

Recently it has been shown that strongly coupled three-dimensional dust clouds can be easily levitated in the plasma sheath region of a glass box coated with a transparent yet conductive layer of indium tin oxide (ITO). Gradually reducing the neutral gas pressure below a critical value of $\sim $350 mTorr establishes self-excited waves within this system. In this paper, it will be shown that decreasing the ITO bias to $-$20 V allows waves to be externally induced within the lower region of the dust cloud. The underlying physics and synergistic effect of changing the pressure and/or ITO bias on these waves will be examined as will the onset of instabilities and the evolution of the dust density waves for ITO biases ranging from 0 to $-$40 V. Finally, the dust charge will be estimated by assuming the waves oscillate at the dust plasma frequency.

*Support from the NSF and the DOE (award numbers PHY-1262031 and PHY-1414523) is gratefully acknowledged.

Authors

  • Bo Zhang

    • CASPER - Baylor University
  • Ke Qiao

    • CASPER - Baylor University
  • Jie Kong

    • CASPER - Baylor University
  • Lorin Matthews

    • CASPER - Baylor University
    • CASPER, Baylor University
  • Truell Hyde

    • Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics, and Engineering Research (CASPER), Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
    • CASPER - Baylor University
    • CASPER, Baylor University