Properties of ordered structures with and without magnetic fields in the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment

The Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX) at Auburn University has observed the formation of ordered structures of dust particles (from 0.5 micron up to 3 micron diameter) at high magnetic field (above 1 T) in which the spatial pattern of the particles is determined by a wire mesh that is embedded in an electrode that is ~30 to 40 mm away from the particles. The most recent experiments have shown the dust particles can mirror the shape of the electrode up to separations of 60 to 70 mm. However, it remains unclear what processes are present in the strongly magnetized background plasma that leads to this pattern formation. In this presentation, we will discuss the formation of a “standard” plasma crystal and compare it with the “imposed, ordered” structure. Results may be presented on the transition from one spatial configuration to the other.