Measurements of Ion Density and Electron Temperature Around Voids in Dusty Plasmas.

In dusty plasmas, dust particles are levitated by balance of forces inward to the plasmas (typically corresponding to electrostatic force) and outward from the plasmas (ion drag force) as well as gravity. The balance of the forces tends to make a region free from dust particles, so-called void at the center of the plasmas. This paper made it clear in measurements of ion density and electron temperature with a double-probe method that the void was a region involving ionization. The dust particles were distributed in the other region diffusion dominant for electrons and ions. The void is shown to be reduced by restricting the region involving ionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]