Self-organization of Coulomb balls in glow DC discharge in neon at cryogenic temperature

Abstract

Dense dust structures have been observed in a glow DC discharge in neon at a temperature of 77 K. Dependencies of shape, axial and radial sizes of dust structures on discharge current, gas pressure and longitudinal electric field have been studied. At the intersection points of dependencies of radial and axial sizes of dust structures on discharge current, the Coulomb balls have been observed at pressures between 0.15 and 1.2 Torr. The correlation between the discharge parameters, at which Coulomb balls form, and their size, composition, phase and dynamic state of components has been revealed.