Phase Separation of Binary Charged Particle Systems with Small Size Disparities using a Dusty Plasma

Phys Rev Lett. 2016 Mar 18;116(11):115002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.115002. Epub 2016 Mar 14.

Abstract

The phase separation in binary mixtures of charged particles has been investigated in a dusty plasma under microgravity on parabolic flights. A method based on the use of fluorescent dust particles was developed that allows us to distinguish between particles of slightly different size. A clear trend towards phase separation even for smallest size (charge) disparities is observed. The diffusion flux is directly measured from the experiment and uphill diffusion coefficients have been determined.