Electrostatic forces on small particles in low-pressure discharges

The electrostatic forces on an isolated particulate in a low-pressure discharge are calculated assuming a screened Coulomb potential profile for the particle sheath. In the absence of particle sheath distortion due to a flowing plasma and assuming that there is no charge]] bound" to the particle in the form of ions in trapped orbits, the monopolar and dipolar forces on the particle are essentially identical to the corresponding forces on a charged sphere in vacuum.