Interaction of two-dimensional plasma crystals with upstream charged particles

TL;DR

This paper investigates how upstream charged particles interact with two-dimensional plasma crystals, revealing their movement, acceleration, and the formation of Mach cones and wakes in the crystal structure.

Contribution

It is the first study to analyze the interaction of upstream charged particles with 2D plasma crystals, highlighting their dynamics and wave excitation effects.

Findings

Upstream particles move between crystal rows.

Particles accelerate to supersonic speeds.

Formation of attraction-dominated Mach cones and wakes.

Abstract

Two-dimensional plasma crystals are characterized by a strong up-and-down asymmetry not only due to gravity but also due to the presence of plasma flow at the location of particles. We study for the first time the interaction of a single-layer plasma crystal with charged extra particles located above it (upstream of the flow of ions). Upstream extra particles tend to move between the rows of particles in the crystal, accelerate to supersonic speeds, and excite attraction-dominated Mach cones and wakes in the crystal.