title: Rotational modes of oscillation of rodlike dust grains in a plasma.
abstract: Three dimensional rotatory modes of oscillations in a one-dimensional chain of rodlike charged particles or dust grains in a plasma are investigated. The dispersion characteristics of the modes are analyzed. The stability of different equilibrium orientations of the rods, phase transitions between the different equilibria, and a critical dependence on the relative strength of the confining potential are analyzed. The relations of these processes with liquid crystals, nanotubing, and plasma coating are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hertzberg
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Vladimirov
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Cramer