Influence of charging current fluctuations on the grain velocity distribution in weakly-ionized plasmas

The distribution function of dust particles immersed in a weakly-ionized plasma is calculated with regard to electron and ion absorption by grains and fluctuations of grain-charging currents. The dust-particle energy is shown to undergo abrupt changes due to specific velocity dependence of the grain friction coefficient and stochastic character of grain charging. Their effect can crucially influence the state of the grain. This model can give some indication concerning the possibility of structure formation and melting of a dusty crystal structure. The hysteresis in the transition from the one-peak distribution function to twin-peak distribution function can be observed with changing of plasma parameters.