Charging of a Dust Particle in a Magnetized Gas Discharge Plasma

The effect of an external magnetic field on the dust particle charging in gas discharge plasmas has been studied using the particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo methods at 1, 2, and 4 T. This paper presents the results for the dust particle charge and the characteristic dust particle charging time for different values of the magnetic field induction. Our simulations have shown that the external magnetic field reduces the absolute value of the dust particle charge and extends the characteristic charging time. In addition, the number density of electrons and ions decreases in the vicinity of the dust particle due to the magnetic force, which we interpret as the action of the external magnetic field hampering plasma flow to the surface of the charged dust particle. To visualize this effect, we show the trajectories of the electrons and ions around the dust particle at different values of the magnetic field induction.