Charge distribution function of plasma dust particles with secondary electron emission

The charge distribution function (CDF) of dust particles in low temperature plasmas is obtained as a function of both negative and positive discrete charges Z=∓1,∓2;,…, and various plasma parameters. Positively charged grains can be formed when secondary electron emission, that is, ionization of the grains by electron impact, is sufficiently important to change their charge. An expression for the CDF is derived from steady-state master equations for the densities of monodispersed, negatively or positively charged dust particles, with Z=∓1,∓2,… discrete elementary charges and radius R, taking into account single and double elementary charge changes in collisions of the particle with plasma electrons or ions. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.