A novel LIF scheme investigating argon neutral and ion dynamics for dusty plasma diagnostics

Understanding the neutral and ion dynamics is crucial for comprehending the fundamental physics behind magnetization and charging of dust microparticles in the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX). Application of traditional Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) techniques is limited by the relatively high pressures (up to 500 mTorr) necessary to stabilize the dust and the high magnetic fields (up to 4.0 T) achievable in MDPX. The metastable pumping states typically used in traditional LIF schemes can be severely depleted by non-radiative transitions known as collisional quenching, caused by enhanced ion-neutral collisions under such high-pressure conditions. To overcome this challenge, time-resolved LIF schemes employing a tunable nanosecond pulsed dye laser with response times faster than the collisional quenching process becomes necessary. Here we shall show preliminary results from the development of viable LIF schemes for both argon neutrals and ions in dusty plasma relevant conditions and testing them in a target unmagnetized and weakly magnetized plasma chamber.