Diagnostic support system upgrades to the Magnetized Dusty Plasma eXperiment (MDPX) at the Magnetized Plasma Research Lab (MPRL): a collaborative research facility at Auburn University*

The Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory (MPRL) at Auburn University is a multi-user, open-access facility dedicated to advancing fundamental research in plasma and dusty plasma systems across a broad range of magnetic field strengths. MPRL supports collaborative investigations into basic plasma physics and magnetized plasma phenomena. Recent infrastructure upgrades have significantly enhanced experimental precision and diagnostic flexibility. A new linear actuator is being developed allowing improved angular control from ±5° to under ±0.5° within a 30° arc. This upgrade enables more accurate alignment for experiments requiring precise magnetic field orientation. Additionally, a standalone optical table with three-axis translation has been integrated, allowing flexible diagnostic placement in the magnet’s horizontal plane. For vertical access, an aluminum frame supports direct mounting of optics or an adjustable mirror, enabling remote diagnostics from an upper deck to mitigate magnetic interference. All components are engineered to operate reliably within the 4 Tesla field of the MDPX system. This presentation will discuss the design and implementation of these diagnostic support systems and show are used to support external user experiments.