Stochastic motion of grains with charge gradients in external electric fields

Abstract

We consider a theoretical model describing the “anomalous heating” of charged grains due to their stochastic motion in the volume of a spatially inhomogeneous plasma. On the basis of this model for the first time we propose the analytical relations for conditions of the heating of grains due to the gradient of their charge in the electric field of a trap. The obtained relations were tested by numerical simulations of the problem for one and two charged particles.