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Controlled photo-discharge of dust in a complex plasma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2021

Michael McKinlay Open the ORCID record for Michael McKinlay [Opens in a new window]  and
Edward Thomas Jr. Open the ORCID record for Edward Thomas Jr. [Opens in a new window]
Michael McKinlay*
Affiliation:
Physics Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL39849, USA
Edward Thomas Jr.
Affiliation:
Physics Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL39849, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: mjm0066@auburn.edu
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Abstract

One of the limitations in studying dusty plasmas is that many of the important properties of the dust (like the charge) are directly coupled to the surrounding plasma conditions rather than being determined independently. The application of high-intensity ultraviolet (UV) sources to generate discharging photoelectric currents may provide an avenue for developing methods of controlling dust charge. Careful selection of the parameters of the UV source and dust material may even allow for this to be accomplished with minimal perturbation of the background plasma. The Auburn Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory (MPRL) has developed a ‘proof-of-concept’ experiment for this controlled photo-discharging of dust; a high-intensity, near-UV source was used to produce large changes in the equilibrium positions of lanthanum hexaboride ($\textrm {LaB}_6$) particles suspended in an argon DC glow discharge with negligible changes in the potential, density and temperature profiles of the background plasma. The shifts in equilibrium position of the dust are consistent with a reduction in dust charge. Video analysis is used to quantify the changes in position, velocity and acceleration of a test particle under the influence of the UV and Langmuir probes are used to measure the effects on the plasma.

Keywords

dusty plasmascomplex plasmas
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 87 , Issue 2 , April 2021 , 905870223
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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