Linear dust acoustic waves in inhomogeneous dusty plasmas with dust grains having power law size distribution

Abstract

The impacts of dust density inhomogeneity and dust size distribution (DSD) on linear dust acoustic (DA) wave propagation have been investigated theoretically in an inhomogeneous unmagnetized dusty plasma having power law DSD. Two different types of wave modes, viz. slow and fast mode, are found to propagate in this inhomogeneous medium. It is shown that the linear dispersion characteristics of the DA waves are substantially affected by the DSD and density inhomogeneity. Also it is found that the phase velocity increases with increasing dust density.