Effects of externally applied magnetic fields on dust voids within a dusty plasma

“Voids,” or dust-free regions, within the body of complex plasmas have been observed and studied in several configurations and parameter spaces, both in microgravity and earth-based environments. The boundaries of these voids are formed at the equilibrium position of a Coulomb force on the (typically negatively charged) dust and the opposing drag force due to a net ion drift. While the properties and creation of these voids has been understood for some time, there has not been an accepted model that includes the effects of an externally applied magnetic field. Using the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX) device at Auburn University, dust voids and their properties are studied under the influence of a large magnetic field, and a theoretical model of this dust voids within strong uniform magnetic fields is presented. Results are also presented from a simulation code developed at Auburn University to examine the collective effects of ions on the void structure in both low- and high-magnetization regimes.