Charging of micro-particles in plasma-dust interaction

A microphysical description of the charging of dust grains in a plasma is presented. The model which is based on plasma-wall interaction processes predicts the dependence of the grain charge on the particle radius and on the particle temperature better than the commonly used assumptions of a spherical capacitor. The results of the model are compared with measurements of the particle charge which were performed in different discharge configurations. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.