LARGE-AMPLITUDE DOUBLE-LAYERS IN DUSTY PLASMAS

The existence of arbitrarily large amplitude electrostatic double layers is investigated in a four-component plasma consisting of electrons, two distinct positive ion species of different temperatures, and massive micrometre-sized. negatively-charged dust particles. In our model, the number densities of the electrons and ions are given by the Boltzmann distribution, whereas the dynamics of charged dust particles is described by the hydrodynamic equations. Criteria for the existence of finite amplitude double layers are obtained. The dependence of the double layer amplitude and Mach number on several plasma parameters is examined.