- Rapid Communication
- Access by Xinjiang University
Structure and stability of the plasma crystal
Phys. Rev. E 54, R46(R) – Published 1 July, 1996
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.54.R46
Abstract
The plasma crystal formed by monodisperse particles trapped in the sheath of an rf discharge is known to show vertically aligned structures. Here, oscillations of the aligned particles are found below a threshold value of gas density as a precursor of the melting transition. Attractive forces due to the formation of a positive space-charge region below the upper particle are calculated from Monte Carlo simulations of ion trajectories in the sheath. The alignment as well as the oscillations of the plasma crystal are explained by a simple model based on the asymmetry of the forces.
References (12)
- H. Ikezi, Phys. Fluids 29, 1764 (1986)
- J. H. Chu, J.-B. Du, and Lin I, J. Phys. D 27, 296 (1994)
- J. H. Chu and Lin I, Physica A 205, 183 (1994)
- J. H. Chu and Lin I, Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 4009 (1994)
- H. Thomas et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 652 (1994)
- A. Melzer, T. Trottenberg, and A. Piel, Phys. Lett. A 191, 301 (1994)
- T. Trottenberg, A. Melzer, and A. Piel, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 4, 450 (1995)
- A. Melzer, A. Homann, and A. Piel, Phys. Rev. E 53, 2757 (1996)
- S. V. Vladimirov and M. Nambu, Phys. Rev. E 52, 2172 (1995)
- F. Melandsø and J. Goree, Phys. Rev. E 52, 5312 (1995)
- T. J. Sommerer, W. N. G. Hitchon, R. E. P. Harvey, and J. E. Lawler, Phys. Rev. A 43, 4452 (1991)
- P. S. Epstein, Phys. Rev. 23, 710 (1924)