Plasma condensation and the one component plasma model Original Research Article

Dusty plasmas can form ordered crystalline structures under the proper conditions. This crystallization can occur if the ratio (known as Γ) of the average Coulomb or Yukuwa potential energy divided by the average kinetic energy is larger than a given constant value. Recently, such plasma condensation has been observed leading to both liquid and crystalline system states. In order to accurately study colloidal plasma ‘phase’ transitions, a better understanding of the manner in which Γ is affected by the fact that such a system is not well described by the one component plasma theory is needed. To accurately model such systems, it is necessary to keep track of a large number of particles. This is accomplished in the current work using a Barnes-Hut tree code known as “Box_Tree.” This code is used to simulate systems with varying plasma and dust grain densities. Simulations of recently discovered Mach cone development are also presented.