Shear flow in complex plasma

Shear flow in complex plasma
For the scientific commissioning of the PK-4 laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS), initial tests were carried out. This image shows a test with plasma crystals in the fluid phase (see previous image of the lattice structure). Influenced by a powerful laser beam, the charged particles at the centre move in the direction of the laser. As they interact with their neighbouring particles, a shear flow is created.
Credit:

DLR (CC-BY 3.0).

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