Elementary physics of complex plasmas (Q947844)

This book offers a state-of-the-art in research and scientific achievements in a relatively new, now rapidly developing field of complex plasma media. These are systems of electrons, ions and neutral atoms, and other charged grains, also called dust particles, having practically arbitrary masses and charges. Such complex plasmas have been known to exist in space but in recent times, they are becoming object of investigation in numerous experiments in laboratories and even more, they are gaining importance in various applications in modern technologies. The book begins with an introductory chapter on essential properties of complex plasmas and the physics needed to explain the phenomena one encounters in such media in laboratory experiments and in the nature. This includes problems of strong couplings, long-range collective interactions, and plasma condensations and self-organizations in complex plasmas. The next chapter is devoted to discussions on the importance of complex plasmas in future practical applications such as computer technologies, new materials, and energy production. Here, the authors analyze the role of complex plasmas in various environmental problems and phenomena including the global warming. The third chapter deals with elementary physical processes ocurring in complex plasmas composed of electrons, ions and various types of charged grain particles. This includes charging mechanisms of grains, electric field screening, and forces acting on grains. The relevant collective effects in complex plasmas are thoroughly described in the next chapter. Here we find analyses of collective linear modes, instabilities, and modes induced by fast particles, and collective pair interactions in fluctuations. This chapter also contains relevant experimental facts and data as well as remaining problems yet to be solved. The fifth chapter is on micro-particle collective and non-collective pair interactions. Starting from general properties of such interactions, the authors discuss shadow non-collective attraction forces, collective attractions for linear and non-linear screening, and related experimental techniques. This following chapter gives both the experimental evidences and discussions of collective structures showing up in complex plasmas. These are plasma crystals, melting and phase transitions, and paradigms for plasma crystal formations. The seventh chapter offers a detailed treatment related to phenomena such as mono-layer crystals and clusters in complex plasmas. The theoretical aspects as well as experimental and numerical data and results are given for 2D dust-lattice waves, dust bending and shear waves among other features. The final, the eighth, chapter contains concluding remarks and comments on some other dust structures such as dust helical clusters, disordered grain structures including voids, dust wall sheaths, micro-gravity experiments, and comments on future research in the field of complex plasmas. Each of the eight chapters is supplemented by a comprehensive list of up-to-date references as well as suggestions for the future work. To conclude, this book is no doubt of a unique value to researchers in the filed of dusty plasmas as well as to graduate students in physics, astrophysics, and in technical sciences.