Influence of gas pressure on the pattern evolutions of dust clusters and fractals in a dusty plasma system

Dusty plasma has been produced through chemical reaction in a capacitively coupled radio frequency (rf) discharge system. Dust clusters with a few particles and dust fractals are observed. As gas pressure is increased, the suspended height of dust particles descends and the average interparticle distance decreases accordingly. The influence of gas pressure on the pattern evolutions is investigated. Dust clusters or fractals not only can evolve regularly on a horizontal plane, but also can evolve from a horizontal plane to a vertical line array. Under appropriate conditions, the evolutions are reversible. When the evolution is from a symmetrical pattern with a centre particle to another pattern, the centre particle will first show its unsteadiness.