In the sheath region, the ion flow to the electrode provides a distinctive direction, with the plasma properties different in the direction parallel or perpendicular to the flow. The ion flow is responsible for the generation of the wake potential for a test dust particle, which in the linear approximation is within the Mach cone for supersonic ion velocities. The bottom dust particle appearing...

New observational evidence of the trans-Pacific transport of Asian dust and its contribution to the ambient particulate matter (PM) levels in North America was revealed, based on the interannual variations between Asian dust storms and the ambient PM levels in western North America from year 2000 to 2006. A high correlation was found between them with an R2 value of 0.83. From analysis of the d...

We describe a rotating-drum dust-dispersal device, which we have used, in conjunction with an existing Q machine, to produce extended, steady state, magnetized plasma columns. The dusty plasma device (DPD) is to be used for the investigation of waves in dusty plasmas and of other plasma/dust aspects. The device is capable of generating dusty plasmas in which as much as -90% of the negative char...

Dust acoustic (or dust density) waves have been observed in many laboratory dusty plasmas. These low-frequency waves involve the dynamics of highly charged and massive dust grains, and can be excited by the flow of ions relative to dust. In this paper, we consider the nonlinear development of the dust acoustic instability, excited by thermal ion flow, in a collisional plasma containing dust wit...

[1] We present an electrodynamic model of a dust devil applying a similar methodology as performed previously for charging in terrestrial thunderstorms. While thunderstorm processes focus on inductive charging between large graupel and smaller ice and water droplets, we tailor the model to focus on the electric charge transfer between dust grains of different sizes and compositions. We specific...

A two-dimensional dust crystal levitated in the sheath of a modified Gaseous Electronics Conference (GEC) reference cell is manipulated by heating or cooling the lower electrode. The dust charge is obtained from top-view pictures of the crystal using a previously developed analytical model. By assuming a simple force balance, and measuring the radial confining force, the vertical electric field...