The structural and dynamical properties of three-dimensional isotropic complex plasmas are investigated kinetically within the framework of a dissipative Yukawa model. A modified Coulomb coupling parameter is proposed whose value alone determines the location of the complex plasma melting line. This implies that the phase transition has a universal scaling at the kinetic level. In detail, our molecular dynamics investigations show that the system dynamics is universal (but different) in the limits of high as well as low-frictional dissipation, while in the intermediate case it depends considerably on the dissipation rate. Issues such as the influence of the interaction strength on the single particle diffusion constant and the applicability of dynamical criteria for freezing are discussed.

• Received 8 January 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.66.016404