Power law behavior for the zigzag transition in a Yukawa cluster

TL;DR

This study experimentally demonstrates that the transition from 1D to 2D in a Yukawa particle cluster follows a power law, confirming theoretical predictions with precise measurements of configuration changes.

Contribution

It provides the first direct experimental evidence of power law behavior in the zigzag transition of Yukawa clusters, aligning with theoretical models.

Findings

Power law dependence of cluster width on anisotropy

Observation of a second zigzag to elliptical transition

Good agreement with Yukawa interaction models

Abstract

We provide direct experimental evidence that the one-dimensional (1D) to two-dimensional (2D) zigzag transition in a Yukawa cluster exhibits power law behavior. Configurations of a six-particle dusty (complex) plasma confined in a biharmonic potential well are characterized as the well anisotropy is reduced. When the anisotropy is large the particles are in a 1D straight line configuration. As the anisotropy is decreased the cluster undergoes a zigzag transition to a 2D configuration. The measured dependence of cluster width on anisotropy is well described by a power law. A second transition from the zigzag to an elliptical configuration is also observed. The results are in very good agreement with a model for particles interacting through a Yukawa potential.