Note on Scattering of Electromagnetic Waves by Nonlinearly Screened Dust Grains in Plasmas

Although most experiments in complex plasmas correspond to non‐linear grain screening, the theoretical models of non‐linear screening have not been checked experimentally. Scattering of electromagnetic waves on a single nonlinearly screened dust grain in plasmas can serve as one of effective methods for investigation of non‐linear screening. In present paper we have developed a theory for electromagnetic wave scattering that includes both the effect of coherency of scattering for long wave range and the loss of coherency with a decrease of the wave length. It is valid for arbitrary non‐linearity in screening and demonstrates that the loss of coherency occurs for wave length less then the characteristic screening length for non‐linear screening being usually substantially larger than the linear Debye screening length. The effect is illustrated numerically using the most popular model of non‐linear screening. The dependence of the cross‐section of scattering on parameter of non‐linearity in screening is calculated numerically. The loss of coherency in scattering by a single grain can serve as effective diagnostic for checking the theoretical models of non‐linear screening. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)