Nichtlineare Theorie und numerische Modellierung komplexer "staubiger" Plasmen

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wolf-Christian Müller
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: Funded in 2003
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5397921

Complex plasmas, i.e., ionized media with an admixture of micron-sized "dust" particles, exhibit a wealth of different physical phenomena, important in astrophysical systems, industrial plasma-processing devices and of interest to fundamental research. The proposed project is aimed at the development of a self-consistent, three-dimensional, kinetic numerical model of complex plasmas, allowing for the theoretical study of such systems without recourse to simplifying linear and/or fluid approximations. In particular the interaction of the typically heavy, highly charged dust particulates with each other and the ambient plasma as well as the electrical dust-charging processes are of interest. The dynamics of complex plasmas, e.g., wave propagation, nonlinear instabilities and phase transitions within the dust component, represents another projected field of research. Results gained by currently performed terrestrial and micro-gravity experiments, e.g., on board the International Space Station, will be used to evaluate the achieved modeling advances.

• DFG Programme: Emmy Noether International Fellowships