Simultaneous effect of an external magnetic field and gas-induced friction on the caging of particles in two-dimensional Yukawa systems

TL;DR

This study explores how an external magnetic field and gas-induced friction jointly influence particle caging in two-dimensional Yukawa systems, revealing complex interactions that differ from their individual effects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed simulation analysis of the combined effects of magnetic fields and gas friction on particle localization in Yukawa systems, highlighting nontrivial interactions.

Findings

Magnetic field increases caging time when acting alone.

Gas friction also increases caging time independently.

Simultaneous presence of both effects leads to nontrivial, opposing influences.

Abstract

We investigate the simultaneous effect of a static homogeneous external magnetic field and a background gas medium on the quasi-localization of the dust particles -- characterized quantitatively by cage correlation functions -- in strongly coupled two-dimensional Yukawa systems. We apply the Langevin dynamics computer simulation method in which the frictional and Lorentz forces are taken into account. Both the presence of the magnetic field or the friction originating from the background gas, when acting alone, increase the caging time. When present simultaneously, however, we find that their effects combine in a nontrivial manner and act against each other within a window of the parameter values.