Transition scattering of waves on charged dust particles in a plasma

Abstract

We consider the transition scattering of waves on charged dust particles in a plasma. The scattered power is first derived from perturbation theory, for the case of weakly charged grains, where linear screening by the plasma particles can be assumed. In the case of a highly charged grain we first determine the nonlinear screening by the plasma particles, in a model where the grain can be treated as a small spherical probe at floating potential, and then solve the nonlinear transition scattering due to the electron shielding cloud. One of the results of our calculation is that the radiation pressure on the grains can be greatly enhanced with respect to the case of usual Thomson scattering on free particles, and some possible astrophysical consequences are discussed.