Title :
Observation of individual particles and Coulombic solids in a microdischarge
Author :
John, P.C. ; Wheeler, D.J. ; Frame, J.W. ; Eden, J.G.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Illinois Univ., Urbana, IL, USA
fDate :
2/1/1999 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Spherical particles ~10-35 μm in diameter are intentionally introduced into a cylindrical microdischarge device fabricated in Al or Si. Having a diameter of 400 μm, this device is viewed along its axis with a microscope and charge-coupled device camera. Individual particles suspended in discharges in Ne are readily observable and form stable spatial patterns (in the plane transverse to the microdischarge axis) determined by the interplay of electrostatic and ion drag forces. Microdischarges may well provide an ideal testbed for exploring the application of well-characterized particles as in situ probes of plasmas
Keywords :
discharges (electric); dusty plasmas; plasma diagnostics; plasma impurities; Al; Coulombic solids; Ne; Si; charge-coupled device camera; cylindrical microdischarge device; electrostatic drag forces; in situ probes; ion drag forces; microscope; spherical particles; well-characterized particles; Dusty plasma; Plasma applications; Plasma density; Plasma devices; Plasma materials processing; Plasma measurements; Plasma properties; Plasma sheaths; Plasma stability; Solids;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
