Author Information

Megan MarkFollow

Project Type

individual

Authors' Class Standing

Megan Mark, Senior

Lead Presenter's Name

Megan Mark

Faculty Mentor Name

Aroh Barjatya

Abstract

Perfect plasma environments rarely occur in the natural world; instead, plasmas are often mixed with neutral particles and other trace elements, giving it the name of dusty plasma. Dusty plasma physics is a subject that is being researched extensively in the fields of space science, astrophysics, semiconductors, nuclear fusion, nanotechnology, and crystal physics.

From research conducted, dusty plasma chambers are possible. A major dusty plasma chamber, that can be used for reference, is the Naval Research Lab's DUPLEX chamber. This chamber creates a dusty plasma within a clear chamber, in which all experiments can be easily observed. A dusty plasma chamber will serve as an asset to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for conducting research in plasma physics which has applications to a myriad of fields, as listed above. The purpose of this project is to construct the chamber to certain requirements and to accomplish the creation of dusty plasma. The main requirements are: the chamber walls shall be constructed from a clear material so the operator or observer will be able to directly observe the chamber environment and the experiment within, the chamber will be equipped with a wide variety of sizes and types of feedthroughs on both the top and bottom flanges of the chamber to provide several access ports to the chamber, the chamber shall safely mix “dust” into the plasma. Due to time constraints, running experiments with the chamber is not a main priority. However, future students and staff will have the ability to run plasma diagnostics and any other dusty plasma experiments.

Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?

Yes

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Dusty Plasma Chamber

Perfect plasma environments rarely occur in the natural world; instead, plasmas are often mixed with neutral particles and other trace elements, giving it the name of dusty plasma. Dusty plasma physics is a subject that is being researched extensively in the fields of space science, astrophysics, semiconductors, nuclear fusion, nanotechnology, and crystal physics.

From research conducted, dusty plasma chambers are possible. A major dusty plasma chamber, that can be used for reference, is the Naval Research Lab's DUPLEX chamber. This chamber creates a dusty plasma within a clear chamber, in which all experiments can be easily observed. A dusty plasma chamber will serve as an asset to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for conducting research in plasma physics which has applications to a myriad of fields, as listed above. The purpose of this project is to construct the chamber to certain requirements and to accomplish the creation of dusty plasma. The main requirements are: the chamber walls shall be constructed from a clear material so the operator or observer will be able to directly observe the chamber environment and the experiment within, the chamber will be equipped with a wide variety of sizes and types of feedthroughs on both the top and bottom flanges of the chamber to provide several access ports to the chamber, the chamber shall safely mix “dust” into the plasma. Due to time constraints, running experiments with the chamber is not a main priority. However, future students and staff will have the ability to run plasma diagnostics and any other dusty plasma experiments.

 

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