Statistical mechanics of the distribution of charge on particles in complex plasmas

This paper presents an analytical study of the distribution of charge on the particles in a complex plasma; the study is based on statistical mechanics and ensures that the charge on the particles is an integral multiple of the electronic charge. The formulation incorporates both the number and energy balance of electrons/ions. Three specific cases of charging of particles have been considered, namely (i) in a plasma in the absence of electron emission from the particles, (ii) in a complex plasma in thermal equilibrium and (iii) in a complex plasma irradiated by monochromatic radiation, causing photoelectric emission of electrons from the particles. The effect of various parameters on the charge distribution has also been investigated. This paper is in reasonably good agreement with the fluctuation theory for large values of Z (Ze is the charge on a particle). It is seen that under certain conditions, a significant number of oppositely charged particles occur in the complex plasma.