Liquid-crystal phase transition by electron shower in a direct current complex plasma

The Coulomb crystal of strongly coupled fine particles is formed by electron shower in a direct current discharge plasma, where the electron shower is injected from an auxiliary plasma which is situated below a main plasma. In case of electron shower injection, the phase transition of dust particles is controlled under the constant argon pressure. The characteristic properties of electron shower injection are discussed theoretically by using a simple collisional sheath model. The calculation analysis clearly shows that electron injection causes the change in charges on fine particles, resulting in a liquid-solid phase transition as in the experiment.