Ion wake-mediated dust interactions under PK-4 conditions: a generalized and compact potential formulation

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Marti, Diana Jimenez, Saenz, Benny Rodriguez, Hartmann, Peter, Kostadinova, Evdokiya, Hyde, Truell, Matthews, Lorin Swint
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Marti, Diana Jimenez
Saenz, Benny Rodriguez
Hartmann, Peter
Kostadinova, Evdokiya
Hyde, Truell
Matthews, Lorin Swint
author_facet Marti, Diana Jimenez
Saenz, Benny Rodriguez
Hartmann, Peter
Kostadinova, Evdokiya
Hyde, Truell
Matthews, Lorin Swint
contents Dusty plasmas, composed of electrons, ions, neutral particles, and charged dust grains, exhibit self-organization phenomena such as string-like structures observed in microgravity experiments. The formation of these structures is influenced by ion wakes generated by streaming ions under external electric fields, as well as by time-evolving plasma inhomogeneities such as ionization waves. Existing ion wake models, such as point charge and Gaussian-based representations, often rely on configuration-specific parameters, limiting their general applicability. In this work, we present a robust and general potential model for dust and ion wake systems under PK-4-like conditions. Using a small set of coefficients determined from molecular dynamics simulations, the model captures the potential distributions for multiple interparticle distances. Its application to test cases and implementation in a small scale dust dynamics simulation demonstrates its applicability to a wide range of dust arrangements beyond string-like configurations.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_19637
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Ion wake-mediated dust interactions under PK-4 conditions: a generalized and compact potential formulation
Marti, Diana Jimenez
Saenz, Benny Rodriguez
Hartmann, Peter
Kostadinova, Evdokiya
Hyde, Truell
Matthews, Lorin Swint
Plasma Physics
Dusty plasmas, composed of electrons, ions, neutral particles, and charged dust grains, exhibit self-organization phenomena such as string-like structures observed in microgravity experiments. The formation of these structures is influenced by ion wakes generated by streaming ions under external electric fields, as well as by time-evolving plasma inhomogeneities such as ionization waves. Existing ion wake models, such as point charge and Gaussian-based representations, often rely on configuration-specific parameters, limiting their general applicability. In this work, we present a robust and general potential model for dust and ion wake systems under PK-4-like conditions. Using a small set of coefficients determined from molecular dynamics simulations, the model captures the potential distributions for multiple interparticle distances. Its application to test cases and implementation in a small scale dust dynamics simulation demonstrates its applicability to a wide range of dust arrangements beyond string-like configurations.
title Ion wake-mediated dust interactions under PK-4 conditions: a generalized and compact potential formulation
topic Plasma Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.19637