Overview of current research activities in the Magnetized Plasma Research Lab (MPRL): a collaborative research facility at Auburn University*

The Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory (MPRL) at Auburn University explores fundamental plasma and complex/dusty plasma phenomena covering a large parameter regime from unmagnetized plasmas to strongly magnetized plasmas with a mission to serve as an open access, multi-user collaborative research facility. The centerpiece of the laboratory is the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX), a highly flexible capacitively coupled plasma device with excellent diagnostic access to study the unique regime of high magnetic fields (up to 4 T), at relatively low density (~ 10^14 – 10^15 /m^3) and low electron (Te < 5 eV) and ion temperature (Ti < 0.05 eV). Other instruments include ALEXIS, a linear inductively coupled plasma device for simulating space plasma and basic plasma experiments, and a wide variety of "tabletop" scale unmagnetized, or patially magnetized low temperature plasma devices. Here, we will give an overview of recent studies from MPRL such as pattern formation of self-organized filamentary structures at high magnetic fields, nanoparticle growth in plasmas, laser trapping of dust particles, studies of dust clusters and dust thermodynamics, using dust as a diagnostic, controlling dust charging and dynamics by externally applied UV light, investigating dust acoustic waves at high magnetic field, effects of dust clounds on low frequency wave transmission, exploring 2-D turbulence phenomena and development of novel non-perturbative laser-based plasma diagnostics. We encourage new ideas for collaboration to enhance plasma physics research in more universities, including primarily undergraduate institutions.