Nonlinear correlation effects on the ion drag force in dusty plasmas

Abstract

The nonlinear correlation effect on the ion drag force and the momentum transfer cross section are investigated in dusty plasmas. The momentum transfer cross section and the ion drag force for the ion–dust grain interaction are obtained as functions of the collision energy, plasma temperature, dust charge, and Debye length by using the nonlinear screening potential. The result shows that the nonlinear correlation effects increase the momentum transfer cross section as well as the ion drag force. The ion drag force and the cross section including nonlinear corrections are found to be decreased with increasing temperature and increased with increasing Debye length. However, with neglecting nonlinear corrections, the cross section is independent of the temperature and the ion drag force is found to be increased with the temperature. Hence, it is found that the nonlinear effects play an important role in collision processes and should be accounted for in analysis of the ion drag force in dusty plasmas.