Charge distribution function of plasma dust particles with secondary electron emission

The charge distribution function (CDF) of dust particles in low temperature plasmas is obtained as a function of both negative and positive discrete c harges Z = -/+ 1,-/+ 2;,..., and various plasma parameters. Positively char ged grains can be formed when secondary electron emission, that is, ionizat ion of the grains by electron impact, is sufficiently important to change t heir charge. An expression for the CDF is derived from steady-state master equations for the densities of monodispersed, negatively or positively char ged dust particles, with Z = -/+ 1,-/+ 2,... discrete elementary charges an d radius R, taking into account single and double elementary charge changes in collisions of the particle with plasma electrons or ions. (C) 1999 Amer ican Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)06120-4].