Abstract:
The electric probe theory is used to determine the charge and potential of a spherical dust macroparticle in weakly ionized plasma under conditions where the radius of dust particle is many times the free path of ions and electrons. The stationary negative charge and potential are calculated as functions of the ratio between the coefficients of diffusion of ions and electrons for different values of relative fraction of dust, of the dimensionless Debye radius, and of the temperature ratio of positive ions and electrons.