Enhanced Charging and Mobilization of Photoemitting Dust Particles in a Low‐Density Plasma

Abstract We present the first observations of dust charging and mobilization in a combined vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and plasma environment. It is experimentally demonstrated that exposing photoemitting dust particles to a low‐density plasma enhanced the charge on the particles, accompanied by a sign...

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Main Authors: Josef L. Richmond, José H. Pagán Muñoz, Xu Wang, Mihály Horányi, Joshua R. Machacek, Christine Charles, Roderick W. Boswell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113715
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author Josef L. Richmond
José H. Pagán Muñoz
Xu Wang
Mihály Horányi
Joshua R. Machacek
Christine Charles
Roderick W. Boswell
author_facet Josef L. Richmond
José H. Pagán Muñoz
Xu Wang
Mihály Horányi
Joshua R. Machacek
Christine Charles
Roderick W. Boswell
author_sort Josef L. Richmond
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We present the first observations of dust charging and mobilization in a combined vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and plasma environment. It is experimentally demonstrated that exposing photoemitting dust particles to a low‐density plasma enhanced the charge on the particles, accompanied by a significant increase in dust mobilization compared to VUV or plasma exposure alone. Measurements of the dust charge support a proposed ‘charge pumping’ mechanism, in which ambient electrons are collected by photoemitting dust surfaces, causing more photoelectrons to be pumped onto surrounding dust particles, increasing repulsive forces and leading to enhanced mobilization.
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-09b6b27d55df4557b2e2b53f7164e9c02025-01-20T13:05:57ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-01-01521n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113715Enhanced Charging and Mobilization of Photoemitting Dust Particles in a Low‐Density PlasmaJosef L. Richmond0José H. Pagán Muñoz1Xu Wang2Mihály Horányi3Joshua R. Machacek4Christine Charles5Roderick W. Boswell6Space Plasma Power and Propulsion Laboratory (SP3) Australian National University Canberra ACT AustraliaLaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) University of Colorado Boulder CO USALaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) University of Colorado Boulder CO USALaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) University of Colorado Boulder CO USASpace Plasma Power and Propulsion Laboratory (SP3) Australian National University Canberra ACT AustraliaSpace Plasma Power and Propulsion Laboratory (SP3) Australian National University Canberra ACT AustraliaSpace Plasma Power and Propulsion Laboratory (SP3) Australian National University Canberra ACT AustraliaAbstract We present the first observations of dust charging and mobilization in a combined vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and plasma environment. It is experimentally demonstrated that exposing photoemitting dust particles to a low‐density plasma enhanced the charge on the particles, accompanied by a significant increase in dust mobilization compared to VUV or plasma exposure alone. Measurements of the dust charge support a proposed ‘charge pumping’ mechanism, in which ambient electrons are collected by photoemitting dust surfaces, causing more photoelectrons to be pumped onto surrounding dust particles, increasing repulsive forces and leading to enhanced mobilization.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113715
spellingShingle Josef L. Richmond
José H. Pagán Muñoz
Xu Wang
Mihály Horányi
Joshua R. Machacek
Christine Charles
Roderick W. Boswell
Enhanced Charging and Mobilization of Photoemitting Dust Particles in a Low‐Density Plasma
Geophysical Research Letters
title Enhanced Charging and Mobilization of Photoemitting Dust Particles in a Low‐Density Plasma
title_full Enhanced Charging and Mobilization of Photoemitting Dust Particles in a Low‐Density Plasma
title_fullStr Enhanced Charging and Mobilization of Photoemitting Dust Particles in a Low‐Density Plasma
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced Charging and Mobilization of Photoemitting Dust Particles in a Low‐Density Plasma
title_short Enhanced Charging and Mobilization of Photoemitting Dust Particles in a Low‐Density Plasma
title_sort enhanced charging and mobilization of photoemitting dust particles in a low density plasma
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113715
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