Stability characteristics of cylindrical fibres in an electrodynamic balance designed for single particle investigation

An electrodynamic balance (EDB) of the double ring double disc type has been designed for studying single microparticles. It allows electrostatic particle injection and recovery as well as alignment of elongated particles. The stability characteristics of cylindrical fibers and their alignment in this EDB are investigated. Angular as well as translational oscillations are observed, each associated with separate but analogous stability criteria.