Metastable States of Dusty Plasma. Comparison with the Experiment

Using the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, electrostatic potentials are determined numerically and free energies of charged particles in the equilibrium two-temperature model of dusty plasma are calculated. It is found that free energies of dust particles, ions, and simultaneously all charged particles have local minimums (metastable states) at certain densities, temperature, and charge of the particles. The possibility of existence of the metastable state of particles in real dusty plasma is corroborated by experimental literature data on dust crystals and droplet clusters. A possible connection of metastable states with the phenomenon of dust particle coagulation and formation of dust crystals is noted.