2 research outputs found
The physics and applications of strongly coupled plasmas levitated in electrodynamic traps
Charged (nano)particles confined in electrodynamic traps can evolve into
strongly correlated Coulomb systems, which are the subject of current
investigation. Exciting physical phenomena associated to Coulomb systems have
been reported such as autowave generation, phase transitions, system
self-locking at the ends of the linear Paul trap, self-organization in layers,
or pattern formation and scaling. The dynamics of ordered structures consisting
of highly nonideal similarly charged nanoparticles, with coupling parameter of
the order is investigated. This approach enables us to study
the interaction of nanoparticle structures in presence and in absence of the
neutralizing plasma background, as well as to investigate various types of
phenomena and physical forces these structures experience. Applications of
electrodynamic levitation for mass spectrometry, including containment and
study of single aerosols and nanoparticles are reviewed, with an emphasis on
state of the art experiments and techniques, as well as future trends. Late
experimental data suggest that inelastic scattering can be successfully applied
to the detection of biological particles such as pollen, bacteria, aerosols,
traces of explosives or synthetic polymers. Brownian dynamics is used to
characterize charged particle evolution in time and thus identify regions of
stable trapping. An analytical model is used to explain the experimental
results. Numerical simulations take into account the stochastic forces of
random collisions with neutral particles, the viscosity of the gas medium, the
regular forces produced by the a.c. trapping voltage, and the gravitational
force. We show that microparticle dynamics is characterized by a stochastic
Langevin differential equation. Laser plasma acceleration of charged particles
is also discussed