Cluster agglomeration induced by dust-density waves in complex plasmas.
Experimental results showing the agglomeration of large carbonaceous particles in a dusty plasma are reported. Experiments were performed in a capacitively coupled rf argon plasma. Acetylene was injected to produce dust particles. When a sufficient amount of nanoparticles is present in the cathodic sheath, self-excited dust-density waves occur. The latter ones induce the motion of larger clusters, which vertically oscillate with the displacement of wave fronts. In some cases, the relative velocity of large particles was high enough to overcome the Coulomb repulsion forces, and agglomeration can be observed. The mechanisms underlying this process are discussed.
Institut Jean Lamour, Département CP2S UMR 7198 CNRS, Université de Lorraine, BP 70239, 54506 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy Cedex, France. simon.dap@ijl.nancy-universite.fr
Simon
S
Dap
David
D
Lacroix
Robert
R
Hugon
Ludovic
L
de Poucques
Jean-Luc
JL
Briancon
Jamal
J
Bougdira