Statistical theory of dusty plasmas: Microscopic description and numerical simulations

The first principles of statistical mechanics are used to formulate the basic points of kinetic theory of dusty plasmas. Equations for microscopic phase densities of plasma particles and grains are derived with regard for electron and ion collection by dust particles and elastic contact collisions between grains. The Bogolyubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy is generalized to the case of dusty plasmas and used to derive kinetic equations, taking into account elastic and inelastic particle collisions. An example of such an equation is presented and applied to the calculations of stationary grain velocity and charge grain distributions. The results of Monte Carlo studies of a strongly coupled dusty plasma are also presented. Microscopic simulations of critical behavior of a dusty plasma with regard for the discrete nature of the plasma subsystem are performed. The effect of nonlinear screening of dust particles on the dusty crystal formation is considered as well. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.