Current research activities in the Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory (MPRL) at Auburn University

The Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory (MPRL) at Auburn University explores a wide range of fundamental plasma and complex/dusty plasma phenomena covering the unique parameter regime of high magnetic fields (B < 4 T), at relatively low electron (Te ~ 5 eV) and ion temperature (Ti < 0.1 eV). The centerpiece of the laboratory is the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX), a highly flexible, high magnetic field plasma device with a mission to serve as an open access, multi-user collaborative research facility for the dusty plasma, basic plasma, and fusion plasma communities. Other instruments include ALEXIS, an RF driven magnetized linear plasma device for simulating space plasma and basic plasma experiments, and a wide variety of “tabletop” scale unmagnetized low temperature plasma devices. Here, we will summarize results from recent studies at MPRL, including nanoparticle growth in plasmas, pattern formation at high magnetic fields, controlling dust charging and dust dynamics by externally applied UV light, dust acoustic waves at high magnetic field, dust thermodynamics under microgravity conditions, using the dust as a diagnostic, development of new plasma diagnostics etc.