Mach cones in a three-dimensional complex plasma

K. Jiang; V. Nosenko; Y. F. Li; M. Schwabe; U. Konopka; A. V. Ivlev; V. E. Fortov; V. I. Molotkov; A. M. Lipaev; O. F. Petrov; M. V. Turin; H. M. Thomas; G. E. Morfill

doi:10.1209/0295-5075/85/45002

All issues

Volume 85 / No 4 (February 2009)

EPL, 85 4 (2009) 45002

Abstract

Issue		EPL Volume 85, Number 4, February 2009


Article Number		45002
Number of page(s)		6
Section		Physics of Gases, Plasmas and Electric Discharges
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/85/45002
Published online		04 March 2009

EPL, 85 (2009) 45002

Mach cones in a three-dimensional complex plasma

K. Jiang¹, V. Nosenko¹, Y. F. Li¹, M. Schwabe¹, U. Konopka¹, A. V. Ivlev¹, V. E. Fortov², V. I. Molotkov², A. M. Lipaev², O. F. Petrov², M. V. Turin³, H. M. Thomas¹ and G. E. Morfill¹

¹ Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik - D-85741 Garching, Germany, EU
² Joint Institute for High Temperatures, RAS - Izhorskaya Street, 13/19, Moscow, 125412 Russia
³ RSC “Energia” Korolev - 141070 Moscow Region, Russia

Corresponding author: jiang@mpe.mpg.de

Received: 19 August 2008
Accepted: 2 February 2009

Abstract

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model has been applied to study the Mach cones in a three-dimensional complex plasma. Numerical results for the velocity distribution of dust particles showed the presence of compressional-wave Mach cones. The compressional Mach cones were excited when subjected to supersonic excitations. It was found that multi-cone structures became a single cone when the discharge pressure was increased. The experiment of Mach cones in a three-dimensional complex plasma under microgravity conditions on board the International Space Station was also reported. A single compressional-wave Mach cone in a three-dimensional complex plasma was observed and could also be obtained from our hydrodynamic model.

PACS: 52.27.Lw – Dusty or complex plasmas; plasma crystals / 52.35.Fp – Electrostatic waves and oscillations (e.g., ion-acoustic waves) / 47.40.-x – Compressible flows; shock waves

© EPLA, 2009

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