Potential distributions in dense plasmas composed of degenerate electrons and positive nanoparticles

The test charge potential involving the electron dust acoustic oscillations is computed in a two-component plasma whose constituents are hot electrons and positive nanoparticles. The hot degenerate inertialess electrons are assumed to follow the Thomas-Fermi distribution, while positive nanoparticles are inertial. The expressions for the Debye-Huckel and wake potentials due to a moving test charge are obtained. Furthermore, the effects of the Fermi energy, the number density of the hot degenerate electrons, and the test charge speed on the potential profiles are numerically examined. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.