Particle growth in highly magnetized Ar/C₂H₂ capacitively-coupled radio-frequency discharge

The growth of nanoparticles was explored in the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX) device. Radio-frequency (rf) plasmas were produced in a reactive gases (acetylene) mixed with argon. The growth of nanoparticles was followed by monitoring discharge parameters such as the powered electrode self bias and neutral gas pressure. The dynamics of the growing dust particle cloud was investigated by recording the scattered light of a laser sheath with a high speed video camera. The size distribution and the internal structure of the produced nanoparticles were studied ex-situ using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Raman spectroscopy was also performed. Complementary particle-in-cell simulations were also carried out. The influence of the strength of the magnetic field was explored and the changes in NP growth dynamics and transport were discussed.