Numerical modeling of dust particle configurations in a cylindrical radio-frequency plasma reactor

In the present work, first, plasma phase variables in a cylindrical radio-frequency (rf) plasma reactor are numerically solved using the local field approximation model. Then, equilibrium configurations of a few interacting (sub-)micron-sized dust particles are obtained by integrating the particles equations for their motion and charge, accounting for the various forces acting on each particle in a three-dimensional Lagrangian framework. Direct comparison of the results with experiment demonstrates excellent qualitative agreement. Based on the ion focus phenomenon, a physical model is formulated and proven successful in simulating the vertically aligned structures.