Secondary dust density waves excited by nonlinear dust acoustic waves

Abstract

Secondary dust density waves were observed in conjunction with high amplitude (n d / n d 0 > 2) dust acoustic waves (DAW) that were spontaneously excited in a dc glow discharge dusty plasma in the moderately coupled, Γ ∼ 1, state. The high amplitude dust acoustic waves produced large dust particle oscillations, displacements, and trapping. Secondary dust density waves were excited in the wave troughs of the high amplitude DAWs. The waveforms, amplitudes, wavelengths, and wave speeds of the primary DAWs and the secondary waves were measured. A dust-dust streaming instability is discussed as a possible mechanism for the production of the secondary waves. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.