Complex plasmas are dusty plasmas in which the density and electric charges of the dust grains are sufficiently high to induce long-range grain-grain interactions, as well as strong absorption of charged-plasma components. Together with the sources replenishing the plasma such systems form a highly dissipative thermodynamically open system that exhibits many features of collective behaviour generally found in complex systems. Most notably among them are self-organized patterns such as plasma crystals, plasma clusters, dust stars and further spectacular new structures. Beyond their intrinsic scientific interest, the study of complex plasmas grows in importance in a great variety of fields, ranging from space-plasma sciences to applied fields such as plasma processing, thin-film deposition and even the production of computer chips by plasma etching, in which strongly interacting clouds of complex plasmas can cause major contamination of the final product. Intended as first introductory but comprehensive survey of this rapidly emerging field, the present book addresses postgraduate students as well as specialist and nonspecialist researchers with a general background in either plasma physics, space sciences or the physics of complex systems.

This book provides the reader with an introduction to the physics of complex plasmas, a discussion of the specific scientific and technical challenges they present and an overview of their potential technological applications. Complex plasmas differ from conventional high-temperature plasmas in several ways: they may contain additional species, including nano meter- to micrometer-sized particles, negative ions, molecules and radicals and they may exhibit strong correlations or quantum effects. This book introduces the classical and quantum mechanical approaches used to describe and simulate complex plasmas. It also covers some key experimental techniques used in the analysis of these plasmas, including calorimetric probe methods, IR absorption techniques and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The final part of the book reviews the emerging applications of microcavity and microchannel plasmas, the synthesis and assembly of nanomaterials through plasma electrochemistry, the large-scale generation of ozone using microplasmas and novel applications of atmospheric-pressure non-thermal plasmas in dentistry. Going beyond the scope of traditional plasma texts, the presentation is very well suited for senior undergraduate, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers specializing in plasma physics.

Complex plasmas differ from traditional plasmas in many ways: these are low-temperature high pressure systems containing nanometer to micrometer size particles which may be highly charged and strongly interacting. The particles may be chemically reacting or be in contact with solid surfaces, and the electrons may show quantum behaviour. These interesting properties have led to many applications of complex plasmas in technology, medicine and science. Yet complex plasmas are extremely complicated, both experimentally and theoretically, and require a variety of new approaches which go beyond standard plasma physics courses. This book fills this gap presenting an introduction to theory, experiment and computer simulation in this field. Based on tutorial lectures at a very successful recent Summer Institute, the presentation is ideally suited for graduate students, plasma physicists and experienced undergraduates.

Dusty or complex plasmas are plasmas containing solid or liquid charged particles referred to as dust. Naturally occurring in space, they are present in planetary rings and comet tails, as well as clouds found in the vicinity of artificial satellites and space stations. On a more earthly level, dusty plasmas are now being actively researched as dust plays a key role in technological plasma applications associated with etching technologies in microelectronics, as well as with production of thin films and nanoparticles. Complex and Dusty Plasmas: From Laboratory to Space provides a balanced and consistent picture of the current status of the field by covering new developments in experimental and theoretical research. Drawing from research performed across the earth and even beyond by an internationally diverse group of pioneering researchers, this book covers a wealth of topics. It delves into -- Major types of complex plasmas in ground-based and microgravity experiments Properties of the magnetized, thermal, cryogenic, ultraviolet, nuclear-induced complex plasmas and plasmas with nonspherical particles Major forces acting on the particles and features of the particle dynamics in complex plasmas, as well as basic plasma-particle interactions, Recent research results on phase transitions between crystalline and liquid complex plasma states Astrophysical aspects of dusty plasmas and numerical simulation of their properties Dust as a source of contamination in many applications including reactors An important feature of this work is the detailed discussion of unique experimental and theoretical aspects of complex plasmas related to the investigations under microgravity conditions performed onboard Mir and ISS space stations. Much of what we know today would not be possible without cooperation between researchers of various nations, many of whom serve as key contributors to this book. Whether deepening their knowledge of things interstellar or developing new applications and products for use in manufacturing, energy, and communication or even fields yet dreamt of, these pages provide the knowledge, approaches, and insight that all researchers of complex plasmas need.

Many fundamental issues in classical condensed matter physics can be addressed experimentally using systems of individually visible mesoscopic particles playing the role of “proxy atoms”. The interaction between such “atoms” is determined by the properties of the surrounding medium and/or by external tuning. The best-known examples of such experimental model systems are two different domains of soft matter — complex plasmas and colloidal dispersions.The major goal of this book — written by scientists representing both complex plasmas and colloidal dispersions — is to bring the two fields together. In the first part of the book the basic properties of the two systems are summarized, demonstrating huge conceptual and methodological overlap of the fields and emphasizing numerous cross-connections between them and their essential complementarity. This “introductory part” should serve to help each community in understanding the other field better. Simultaneously, this provides the necessary basis for the second part focused on particle-resolved studies of diverse generic phenomena in liquids and solids — all performed with complex plasmas and/or colloidal dispersions. The book is concluded with the discussion of critical open issues and fascinating perspectives of such interdisciplinary research.

At the frontiers of physics and chemistry lies the new and rapidly emerging area of complex plasma systems. The study of complex plasma systems that contain colloid nano/microscopic particles is now actively pursued in a diverse range of scientific fields ? from plasma and gas discharge physics, to astrophysics, materials science and engineering.This book highlights, in a systematic, insightful, and perceptive way, the fundamental physics and industrial applications of complex plasmas, with emphasis on the conditions relevant to laboratory gas discharges and industrial plasma reactors. It provides a specialized and comprehensive description of the most recent theoretical, experimental, and modeling efforts to understand the unique properties of complex plasma systems involving the stability, dynamics, and self-organization of colloid particles and their associations. Special attention is focused on the physical understanding of up-to-date developments in major technological applications of micron and nano-sized particles.Each chapter is presented in a concise and comprehensive manner, with a categorized overview of the underlying physics followed by an in-depth description. The book will appeal to scientists and researchers as well as undergraduate and graduate students wishing to explore the flourishing interdisciplinary field of complex plasma systems.

Colloidal plasmas - a still emerging field of plasma physics - enable the study of basic plasma properties on a microscopic kinetic level and allow the visualization of collective plasma phenomena, like oscillations and waves. Moreover, a vast number of novel phenomena are found in these systems, ranging from Coulomb crystallization to new types of forces and waves. Last but not least, they shed a new light on various traditional aspects of plasma physics such as shielding or the mechanism of acoustic waves in plasmas, thus providing new insight into the basic foundations of plasma physics.These course-based and self-contained lecture notes provide a general introduction to this active and growing field to students and nonspecialists, requiring only basic prior knowledge in plasma physics. ​

The presentation in the book is based on charge balance on the dust particles, number and energy balance of the constituents and atom-ion-electron interaction in the gaseous plasma. Size distribution of dust particles, statistical mechanics, Quantum effects in electron emission from and accretion on dust particles and nonlinear interaction of complex plasmas with electric and electromagnetic fields have been discussed in the book. The book introduces the reader to basic concepts and typical applications. The book should be of use to researchers, engineers and graduate students.

In the field of plasma physics, plasmas (including charged fine particles) have been actively studied for more than 40 years, and special features of wave phenomena, self-organizations of the particles, potential formations, fluid-like motions of the particles, generations of fine particles in the plasmas, etc. have been investigated. Here, these plasmas are called “fine particle plasmas”, which are also called “dusty plasmas” and “complex plasmas”. This book intends to provide the reader with the recent progress of studies of fine particle plasmas from the viewpoints of wide and interdisciplinary directions, such as self-organized fine particles, Coulomb crystal formation, behaviors of fine particles, their stability, and syntheses of nano-sized particles in reactive plasmas. Further, the phenomena of dense grain particles and the effects of massive neutrinos in galaxy clustering are included.

The enlarged new edition of this textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the basic processes in plasmas and demonstrates that the same fundamental concepts describe cold gas-discharge plasmas, space plasmas, and hot fusion plasmas. Starting from particle drifts in magnetic fields, the principles of magnetic confinement fusion are explained and compared with laser fusion. Collective processes are discussed in terms of plasma waves and instabilities. The concepts of plasma description by magnetohydrodynamics, kinetic theory, and particle simulation are stepwise introduced. Space charge effects in sheath regions, double layers and plasma diodes are given the necessary attention. The novel fundamental mechanisms of dusty plasmas are explored and integrated into the framework of conventional plasmas. The book concludes with a concise description of modern plasma discharges. Written by an internationally renowned researcher in experimental plasma physics, the text keeps the mathematical apparatus simple and emphasizes the underlying concepts. The guidelines of plasma physics are illustrated by a host of practical examples, preferentially from plasma diagnostics. There, Langmuir probe methods, laser interferometry, ionospheric sounding, Faraday rotation, and diagnostics of dusty plasmas are discussed. Though primarily addressing students in plasma physics, the book is easily accessible for researchers in neighboring disciplines, such as space science, astrophysics, material science, applied physics, and electrical engineering. This second edition has been thoroughly revised and contains substantially enlarged chapters on plasma diagnostics, dusty plasmas and plasma discharges. Probe techniques have been rearranged into basic theory and a host of practical examples for probe techniques in dc, rf, and space plasmas. New topics in dusty plasmas, such as plasma crystals, Yukawa balls, phase transitions and attractive forces have been adopted. The chapter on plasma discharges now contains a new section on conventional and high-power impulse magnetron sputtering. The recently discovered electrical asymmetry effect in capacitive rf-discharges is described. The text is based on an introductory course to plasma physics and advanced courses in plasma diagnostics, dusty plasmas, and plasma waves, which the author has taught at Kiel University for three decades. The pedagogical approach combines detailed explanations, a large number of illustrative figures, short summaries of the basics at the end of each chapter, and a selection of problems with detailed solutions.