Photoelectric Charging of Dust Particles in Vacuum

A. A. Sickafoose; J. E. Colwell; M. Horányi; S. Robertson

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.6034

Abstract

Photoelectric charging measurements are presented of dust grains in vacuum for isolated grains and for grains near a photoemissive surface. Isolated grains reach a positive-equilibrium floating potential, dependent upon the work function of the particle, which causes the emitted electrons to be returned. Grains dropped past a photoemitting surface reach a negative floating potential for which the sum of the emitted and collected currents is zero. The particles tested are $90 - 106 μ m$ in diameter and are composed of Zn, Cu, graphite, and glass.

Received 1 March 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.6034

Focus

Space Dust in a Vacuum

Published 27 June 2000

Physicists have shown how dust becomes charged by light on the moon, on asteroids, and in comets.

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Authors & Affiliations

A. A. Sickafoose, J. E. Colwell, M. Horányi, and S. Robertson

Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0392

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Physical Review Letters