Cluster Rotation in an Unmagnetized Dusty Plasma

Rotation of dust clusters in an unmagnetized dusty plasma under different gas pressures is experimentally studied. Clusters containing different numbers of charged dust grains are found in different horizontal planes. The mechanism behind the dust rotation is investigated by using molecular dynamics simulations. The experimental and simulation results show that the radial confinement potential plays an important role in determining the properties of the cluster rotation under given gas pressure or temperature.