Investigating Agitator Dynamics for Orbiting Dust Particles

ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room

Plasma multi-ring systems are created in an RF plasma using micron sized melamine formaldehyde micro-spheres. A confining plasma sheath forms above the groove in the electrode and the dust particles tend to orbit inside the plasma sheath. In some multi-ring systems certain dust particles, called agitators, reside above the plane that the multi-ring occupies. These agitators oscillate in and out of the multi-ring plane adding energy to the system. Measuring the angular velocity of similar multi-ring systems, controlling for the presence of agitators, systems with agitators are found to have a larger angular velocity.