Particle charge in PK-4 dc discharge from ground-based and microgravity experiments

TL;DR

This study estimates microparticle charge in a dc discharge using ground-based and microgravity experiments, employing a force balance model that accounts for radial discharge variations, providing insights into particle behavior in different gravity conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a force balance model to estimate microparticle charge in dc discharges under varying gravity conditions, validated by experimental data from Earth and space.

Findings

Model accurately describes particle velocities in different gravity environments.

Particle charge estimates are consistent with experimental observations.

Radial dependence of discharge parameters is significant for charge estimation.

Abstract

The charge of microparticles immersed in the dc discharge of the Plasmakristall-4 experimental facility has been estimated using the particle velocities from experiments performed on Earth and under microgravity conditions on the International Space Station. The theoretical model used for these estimates is based on the balance of the forces acting on a single particle in the discharge. The model takes into account the radial dependence of the discharge parameters and describes reasonably well the experimental measurements.