Particle Dynamics in a Gravitationally Variable Argon DC Glow Discharge Dusty Plasma

Dusty plasmas were studied in an experiment designed to investigate the impact of gravity on particle (80 micron) dynamics. The experiment used a CCD camera and thin laser-sheet to image silica dust clouds that were exposed to UV light (100W, 365nm) within an argon DC glow discharge plasma (300mT, 0.65ma) aboard NASA's ``Weightless Wonder.'' The Weightless Wonder is a plane capable of creating a 0-1.8g environment for 10-25 seconds by flying through a series of parabolic trajectories. Interparticle spacing was studied for a variety of equilibrium positions (where gravitational and electrostatic forces offset) during the flight. Particle position and velocity were analyzed as a function of g. Theory and results are presented.