The potential of particles in dust crystal in RF discharge

Summary form only given. The 3D-numerical calculation of a radio-frequency discharge containing a two-layer dusty crystal in the sheath has been done. We solve self-consistently the kinetic equations for electrons and ions by a Monte-Carlo technique and the Poisson equation for the potential distribution. The electron and ion losses on the dusty grains are included in our model. We obtain the charge of the particles and the rate of particle charging as function from gas pressure. The characteristics of the RF discharge and parameters of the dusty crystal such as the interlayer distance and the charge of particles agree with the experimental data. The potential distribution around the particles is essentially asymmetrical in the vertical direction and explains the vertical alignment observed in experiments.