Effects of the charge-dipole interaction on the coagulation of fractal aggregates

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 586 - 593
• Main Authors: Matthews, L.S., Hyde, T.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.04.2004; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Aggregates; Coagulation; Dusty plasma; Electrons; Fractals; Numerical analysis; Physics; Planets; Plasma; Plasma chemistry; Plasma density; Plasma temperature
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2004.826107

A numerical model with broad applications to complex (dusty) plasmas is presented. The self-consistent N-body code allows simulation of the coagulation of fractal aggregates, including the charge-dipole interaction of the clusters due to the spatial arrangement of charge on the aggregate. It is shown that not only does a population of oppositely charged particles increase the coagulation rate, the inclusion of the charge-dipole interaction of the aggregates as well as the electric dipole potential of the dust ensemble decreases the gelation time by a factor of up to 20. It is further shown that these interactions can also stimulate the onset of gelation, or "runaway growth," even in a population of particles charged to a monopotential where previously it was believed that like-charged grains would inhibit coagulation. Gelation is observed to occur due to the formation of high-mass aggregates with fractal dimensions greater than two, which act as seeds for runaway growth.