Mahendra Singh Sodha et al 2010 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 19 015006 doi:10.1088/0963-0252/19/1/015006
Mahendra Singh Sodha1,4, Amrit Dixit1, Sweta Srivastava2, S K Mishra2, M P Verma2 and L Bhasin3
Show affiliationsThis communication is a discussion on the charge distribution of the dust particles in an illuminated dust cloud in near space when the photoelectric emission is the dominant mechanism for electron generation. An analytical model has been developed on the basis of charge neutrality condition and balance of number density and energy of electrons; the approach of statistical mechanics has been followed. Computations correspond to a metallic dust cloud in near space environment, where Lyman-α spectral line radiation is the dominant one for photoelectric emission. A comparison of results from the present statistical theory of charge distribution with the uniform charge theory has been presented. As an interesting conclusion, the theory predicts negative charging of a few dust particles for a certain range of parameters leading to the formation of bigger particles on account of electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged particles.
52.27.Lw Dusty or complex plasmas; plasma crystals
98.38.Cp Interstellar dust grains; diffuse emission; infrared cirrus
Issue 1 (February 2010)
Received 13 August 2009, in final form 8 October 2009
Published 10 November 2009
Mahendra Singh Sodha et al 2010 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 19 015006
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