Dust Particle Charge in a Stratified Glow Discharge

A new method of measuring the charge of a single dust particle, which is used in a stratified glow discharge of small currents and pressures, is proposed. In this method, the vibrational characteristics of the dust particle trapped in a standing striation arising under the modulation of the discharge current are used for dust particle charge determination. The measured value of the charge is compared with theoretical estimates and literature data for glow discharge conditions.