Abstract
Abstract In this paper we consider the behavior of the dust particles around the electric probe with a negative potential. The size of the dust‐free region, which depends on the probe potential, was experimentally determined. Theoretical calculation of the size of the dust‐free region based on the energy balance was performed. Comparison of theoretical estimations with experimental results was made. Also in this work the results of the theoretical investigation of the oscillations of the dust particles based on the Fourier analysis of the velocity autocorrelation functions are presented. It is shown that real and imaginary parts of the spectral function have maximum near the plasma frequency of the dust particles at large values of coupling parameter and small values of friction coefficient. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)