Capacitively Coupled Dusty Plasma Experimental (CCDPx) Device: A Machine for Studying Multidimensional Complex Plasmas

The development and commissioning of a new capacitively coupled dusty plasma experimental (CCDPx) device is reported. The plasma discharge of argon gas is produced using a dual-channel radio frequency source. The dusty plasma is produced by the introduction of monodispersive microspheres of melamine formaldehyde in the discharge. The characterization of the plasma is performed using an RF-compensated Langmuir probe. The device features an innovative lower electrode that is capable of creating a variety of potential wells to trap the dust particles in 1-D, 2-D, or 3-D equilibrium configurations. Importantly, the transverse confinement of the particles can be controlled in real time in a continuous and dynamic manner to observe transitions from a 1-D chain to 2-D and 3-D structures. This design feature provides a unique and powerful ability to explore new areas of dusty plasma research related to phase transitions and structural transitions. A detailed description of the design features, diagnostic facilities, and operational characteristics are provided. Preliminary experimental findings of dusty plasmas of differing dimensionalities are presented, and the potential for exploiting the device’s unique facilities for future research is discussed.