Employing a Zyvex S100 Nanomanipulator Within a Complex Plasma

Particles within a Coulomb crystal formed in the plasma sheath above the powered lower electrode in a GEC reference cell are examined using a Zyvex S100 nanomanipulator. Using the S100, a powered probe is positioned vertically within the cell transverse to the center of the crystal.~~It will be shown that as the probe is lowered toward the horizontal dust lattice plane, a circular dust void is formed. When the probe potential is driven employing a sinusoidal oscillation, an out of phase oscillation develops with dust near the probe moving in a primarily vertical counter clockwise loop and dust far from the probe moving in a primarily vertical clockwise loop. At the critical point between these two extremes, the dust particles oscillate along a linear vertical path due to the force balance between probe attraction, dust repulsion, and the confinement provided by the electrode geometry. A model describing the probe's interaction with the complex plasma system will be discussed and basic plasma parameters within the sheath will be examined.