Lattice modes in a system of charge rotators in a plasma environment

Abstract

Three dimensional rotatory modes of oscillations in a one-dimensional chain of rod-like charged particles or dust grains in a plasma are investigated. An oscillatory dependence on wavenumber and a critical dependence on the relative strengths of the confining potential is found. The characteristic frequency range for the oscillatory modes is of the order of the dust plasma frequency. The azimuthal and colatitudinal modes show opposite characteristics in the near and far interparticle distance regimes, respectively. The rods are shown to move, or switch to the relevant equilibrium, dependind on the confining parameters. This is an example of a phase change phenomenon which is analogous to that observed in liquid crystals. The ability to line up rods in different directions, by alternating the relative sizes of the confining potentials, is a powerful tool for applications. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)