Simulation of the shielding of dust particles in low pressure glow discharges

The dynamics of the shielding of particulates (“dust”) in low pressure glow discharges have been investigated with a pseudoparticle-in-cell simulation for electrons and ions in the vicinity of a dust particle. The potential of the dust particle, and the orbital nature of ions around the dust particle, depend on the collisionality of the ions. Collisions of orbiting ions effectively increase the ion flux collected by the particle, thereby increasing its potential to more positive values. Electron and ion momentum transfer and collection cross sections for scattering from the dust particle are presented.