Structure of Debye clusters in a biharmonic potential well

Dale Igram; T.E. Sheridan

Structure of Debye clusters in a biharmonic potential well

POSTER

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the arrangement of nearly identical charged dust particles confined in a two-dimensional biharmonic potential well. As the well shape changes from elliptical (anisotropic) to circular (isotropic), we find that clusters with $n=6$ and 8 particles change from an elliptical configuration where all particles lie on the edge to a configuration with one central particle surrounded by the remaining $n-1$ particles. The mechanism for this transition is identified as a transverse instability in the finite two-chain configuration.

Authors

Dale Igram

Cornell University, Air Force Research Labs, The Center for Photochemical Sciences and Department of Physics, BGSU, Department of Physics, BGSU, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ball State University, Miami University, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universitat, Mainz, Germany, Martin-Luther-Universitat, Halle, Germany, The Ohio State University, Department of Physics, Columbus, OH 43210, USA, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA, Ohio Northern University, The Ohio State University, Department of Physics, Columbus, OH 43210, Sciprint.org, Ball State University, Department of Physics and Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
T.E. Sheridan