Superdiffusion and Non-Gaussian Statistics in a Driven-Dissipative 2D Dusty Plasma

Anomalous diffusion and non-Gaussian statistics are detected experimentally in a two-dimensional driven-dissipative system. A single-layer dusty plasma suspension with a Yukawa interaction and frictional dissipation is heated with laser radiation pressure to yield a structure with liquid ordering. Analyzing the time series for mean-square displacement, superdiffusion is detected at a low but statistically significant level over a wide range of temperatures. The probability distribution function fits a Tsallis distribution, yielding q, a measure of nonextensivity for non-Gaussian statistics.