2.1 - Phase Diagram

Here we examine the angular velocity vs. angular position of the particles in the dust cluster in 3-D (see figure 2.1.1). Such plot is called a phase diagram and it is a typical method in studying oscillatory motion. The hue color scale in the vertical direction was used to indicate the different magnetic field strength settings (blue = 15G through to red = 90G). An animation was produced by revolving the camera along the phi angle so that structure of the 3-D phase diagram can be examined in details.
 

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Planar-2 (910kb) (GIF) or
Planar-2 (1,325kb) (MOV)

Planar-3 (1,336kb) (GIF) or
Planar-3 (2,042kb) (MOV)

Planar-4 (1,573kb) (GIF) or
Planar-4 (2,447kb) (MOV)

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Planar-6 (2,062kb) (GIF) or
Planar-6 (3,165kb) (MOV)

Planar-7 (1,746kb) (GIF) or
Planar-7 (2,595kb) (MOV)

Planar-8 (GIF) or
Planar-8 (MOV)

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Planar-10 (1,729kb) (GIF) or
Planar-10 (2,523kb) (MOV)

Planar-11 (GIF) or
Planar-11 (MOV)

Planar-12 (GIF) or
Planar-12 (MOV)

To see animation of the phase diagram for the different cluster configuration, please click on the link underneath the image.

To see animation of ALL phase diagram simultaneously (will take a long time to download), please click here.


Figure 2.1.1 - Phase diagram of dust clusters from two to twelve particles. The angular velocity has actually been scaled up 1000 times the actual value (except Planar-2).
The advantage of using such phase diagram is that the occurrence of "Periodic Pause" becomes apparent. For if the dust particles in the cluster undergo uniform angular motion, a circular phase diagram is expected. If the particles exhibit "Periodic Pause", then the phase diagram would be deformed. And if the particles oscillate about a particular angle, then a straight line would be obtained.