Particle simulation of dust structures in plasmas

In the Earth's gravity, the dust in plasmas can form into a solid-like state In the plasma sheath. These ordered structures occur due to the balance of the interparticle forces, the gravitational force, and the sheath electric field. We have developed a particle simulation model to study the behavior of strongly coupled dust in plasmas under conditions of normal gravity and microgravity. The model includes a complete first-principles representation of the short-range strong forces of a shielded Coulomb system, as well as the long-range wake forces of a plasma with the ions streaming through the dust. The effects of charged particle scattering with neutrals and with other charges are included. Magnetic fields in the plasma may also be incorporated in the model.