Effects of dust charging associated with an electron beam in the cathode sheath of glow discharges

The charging of dust particles caused by the thermal electrons, the cold io ns, and the electron beam released from a plane cathode, including secondar y emission of dust in a collisionless cathode sheath of glow discharges, is investigated with a self-consistent theoretical model. Effects of the dust charging relevant to the electron beam including secondary emission of dus t are important to the dust potential in the close cathode region. Collecti on of electrons from the electron beam by dust leads to a decline in the du st potential, but secondary emission of dust by the electron beam impact ca uses a rise in the dust potential. The dust potential can be negative in th e whole sheath if an electron beam emitted from a cathode is strong enough. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-664X(00)01903-0].