Author(s)

Susmita Sarkar^1*, Subrata Bhakta²

¹Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India.
²Department of Mathematics, S.A. Jaipuria College, Kolkata, India.

In this paper we have developed a model to study the role of both electron and ion nonthermalities on dust acoustic wave propagation in a complex plasma in presence of positively charged dust grains. Secondary electron emission from dust grains has been considered as the source of positive dust charging. As secondary emission current depends on the flux of primary electrons, nonthermality of primary electrons changes the expression of secondary emission current from that of earlier work where primary electrons were thermal. Expression of nonthermal electron current flowing to the positively charged dust grains and consequently the expression of secondary electron current flowing out of the dust grains have been first time calculated in this paper, whereas the expression for nonthermal ion current flowing to the positively charged dust grains is present in existing literature. Dispersion relation of dust acoustic wave has been derived. From this dispersion relation real frequency and growth rate of the wave have been calculated. Results have been plotted for different strength of nonthermalities of electrons and ions.

Complex Plasma, Nonthermality, Positive Dust, Secondary Electron Emission

Sarkar, S. and Bhakta, S. (2016) Effect of Electron and/or Ion Nonthermality on Dust Acoustic Wave Propagation in a Complex Plasma in Presence of Positively Charged Dust Grains Generated by Secondary Electron Emission Process. Journal of Modern Physics, 7, 74-86. doi: 10.4236/jmp.2016.71008.