A Single Particle Deflection Experiment for MDPX

Complex plasmas contain, in addition to the usual electrons, ions, and neutral atoms, macroscopic electrically charged (nanometer to micrometer) sized ``dust'' particles. Based on the ratio of the electrostatic potential to kinetic energy, these micro-particles can exhibit gaseous, fluid, and crystal-like behavior. For this reason, complex plasmas are a unique testing ground to study multi-particle systems. In spite of the large charge that can be acquired by the dust grains, their charge-to-mass ratio can be quite low compared to other plasma particles. Thus, the direct impact of electric and magnetic fields on dust dynamics is relatively small, and as a result, direct measurements of the particle charge is quite difficult. However, a charge measurement using dust motion in magnetic field still seems possible - although challenging. In this presentation we discuss our initial efforts to perform a single particle g x B deflection measurement to determine the particle charge. We use the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX) with a magnetic field orientation perpendicular to gravity and observe the deflection of particles dropped vertically downward.