1. Observation of particle pairing in a two-dimensional plasma crystal.
- Author
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Zhdanov, S. K., Nosenko, V., Thomas, H. M., Morfill, G. E., and Couëdel, L.
- Subjects
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PLASMA gases , *PARTICLES (Nuclear physics) , *PLASTIC crystals , *TWO-dimensional models , *RADIO frequency , *ARGON , *LOW pressure (Science) - Abstract
The observadon is presented of naturally occurring pairing of particles and their cooperative drift in a two-dimensional plasma crystal. A single layer of plastic microspheres was suspended in the plasma sheath of a capacitively coupled radio-frequency discharge in argon at a low pressure of 1 Pa. The particle dynamics were studied by combining the top-view and side-view imaging of the suspension. Cross-analysis of the particle trajectories allowed us to identify naturally occurring metastable pairs of particles. The lifetime of pairs was long enough for their reliable identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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