simulation of ion acceleration in a charged dust cloud

The interaction of a plasma flow with a cloud of charged dust particles is studied using a one‐dimensional hybrid simulation model. Depending on the dust charge density and the cloud diameter, this cloud is either a weak or a strong obstacle in the plasma flow. For a weak dust obstacle a super‐magnetosonic flow is decelerated monotonically inside the cloud whereas a sub‐magnetosonic flow is accelerated. For a strong dust obstacle the flow configuration in the cloud changes dramatically: Deceleration and acceleration may change across the cloud and strong proton heating and shock generation may occur with the stationary regime being discarded. An interpretation of the proton dynamics in weak clouds is given on the basis of a simple analytic multifluid model.