Velocity Distribution Around an Isolated Dust Particle

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical model in which selfconsistent distributions of plasma space charge, ion velocity and potential are calculated in the proximity of an isolated spherical dust particle. In the presented model this dust particle is under the influence of an external electric field. As a result of calculation spatial distribution of ions radial velocity around the isolated dust particles is obtained, as well as the ion velocity distribution function along an axis aligned with the vector of the external electric field. The obtained results make it possible to establish the intervals of parameters (i.e., the electric field strength, the ion mean free path, and the distance between the ion and the dust particle) within the boundaries of which the approximation that the ion velocity distribution function coincides with the shifted Maxwell distribution is correct.