Particle transport in a dc glow discharge dusty plasma with two particle size distributions

Recent experiments performed on the Auburn Complex Plasma Experiment (A-COMPLEX) have shown a tendency for the dust cloud, suspended in an argon dc glow discharge plasma, to self-organize into an ordered structure with multiple internal boundaries. At these internal boundaries, there is a clear change in the microparticle transport. Initial investigations suggest that the mechanism behind the dust cloud self-ordering is the mass distribution of the silica particles that comprise the cloud. To test this, a new experiment involving two dust particle distributions, 10 micron and 40 micron diameter silica particles, is performed in the A-COMPLEX device to create distinct microparticle populations within the suspended dust cloud. Two-dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques will be used to characterize the particle transport. Measurements will be presented on the internal transport of the microparticle in this system.