Physics of Dusty Plasmas

Andre Melzer obtained his PhD in plasma physics from Kiel university in 1997 and habilitated in 2002. Since 2003, he leads a group on colloidal (dusty) plasmas at the University Greifswald. His work mainly involves experimental investigations of dusty plasmas in the laboratory and under the microgravity conditions of parabolic flights. Also the study of dust systems under strong magnetic fields and the development of novel diagnostics for dusty plasmas have been in the focus of his work. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and several book chapters.

• Introduction.- Charging of Dust Particles.- Forces and Trapping of Dust Particles.- Dust Particle Interaction.- Plasma Crystallization and Phase Transitions.- Waves in Weakly Coupled Dusty Plasmas.- Waves in Strongly Coupled Dusty Plasmas.- Finite Dust Clusters.- Dusty Plasmas and Magnetic Fields.- Diagnostic Methods in Dusty Plasmas.- Particle Growth in Dusty Plasmas and Applications.- Astrophysical Dusty Plasmas.- Summary.