Effect of polarization force on the Mach cones in a complex plasma

Abstract

We report the modifications of compressional Mach cone propagation characteristics due to \textcolor{black}{the} polarization force acting on micron size dust particles embedded in a non-uniform plasma. We solve the hydrodynamic fluid equations for highly charged dust particles to investigate the Mach cone by incorporating the polarization force in the momentum equation and observe the structural change on lateral wakes at different polarization force for a given Mach number and Epstein drag force. We also notice that the maximum amplitude of normalized dust density perturbation decreases with the increase of polarization interaction when the other parameters remain constant.

7 pages with 4 figures