Self-similar Expansion of a Non-Ideal Unmagnetized Dusty Plasma

Abstract

For larger grains in the super-micron range and higher grain densities, the reduced mean inter-particle distance enhances the interaction between neighboring dust grains. Hence, such dusty plasmas are essentially strongly coupled and the effects due to the non-ideal nature of the plasma cannot be neglected. This chapter considers the self-similar expansion into vacuum of a non-ideal dusty plasma filling semi-infinite half-space. The model consists of a three-component plasma consisting of electrons, ions and non-ideal dust grains. The electrons and ions are treated as point particles, as such they are assumed to be in electrostatic equilibrium. The plasma is unmagnetized. The effect of plasma parameters, such as temperatures and densities of the charged species, on the expansion profile is examined by solving the derived set of self-similar equations. The chapter compares the results with those obtained for an ideal dusty plasma.