Generation of a dust void in a strongly coupled dusty plasma using a plasma fireball.

A dust void is generated in a strongly coupled dusty plasma by inserting a cylindrical pin of 0.1mm diameter into a radiofrequency discharge argon plasma. The pin is externally biased to a voltage significantly higher than the plasma potential which creates a region of intense ionization that generates the dust void. The void is mechanically stabilized due to the balance electric field force and the ion drag force on the dust particles. The strength of these two opposing forces on the dust particles is estimated. Additionally, the effects of neutral density as well as dust density on the size of the void are also studied.