Trapped particles by large-amplitude waves in two-dimensional Yukawa liquids

In recent experiments of strongly coupled complex plasmas (SCCPs), trapping-like phenomena of micro-sized dust particles were observed during propagation of large-amplitude dust-density waves. A small number of particles were observed being trapped and carried along with the waves. In the present paper, we study the similar trapping phenomena in two-dimensional SCCPs by using Brownian dynamics simulation. The trapping process and its new features arising from strong-coupling effects are investigated. In particular, similarities and differences between trapping in weakly coupled plasmas and SCCPs are discussed in detail. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.