Boundary Phenomena in RF and DC Glow Discharge Dusty Plasmas

Abstract

In experimental investigations of dusty or complex plasmas, studies have been performed primarily using dc or rf glow discharge plasmas. In spite of the similarity of the experimental parameters produced by each of these plasma generation techniques, the addition of charged microparticles to these plasmas often leads to different phenomena. This paper discusses the similarities and differences in particle transport observed at the boundary between the microparticle clouds and the surrounding plasma. Results will highlight experimental studies performed using two different dc glow discharge dusty plasma experiments ‐ the Auburn Dusty Plasma Experiment (DPX) and the Naval Research Laboratory DUPLEX experiment ‐ and an rf glow discharge dusty plasma experiment ‐ the Plasma‐Kristall Experiment (PKE‐Nefedov) at Max‐Planck‐Institut fur Extraterrestrische Physik. Sheath‐like structures are observed at the particle cloud ‐ plasma interface in all three cases.