  One of the fundamental problems is the understanding of physics of
electrostatic and electromagnetic fluctuations in multi-scale plasma
turbulence. Especially so, in continuously connected plasma regions with
varying degree of magnetization. Examples range from multiscale plasmas in
Magnetron-like devices to astrophysical plasmas confined by magnetic dipole
structures, solar wind driven collision-less and weakly collisional plasmas
around Earth, to mention a few. Such plasmas are dominated by both electron
scale and ion scale physics as well as finite beta effects. To investigate such
processes in laboratory experiments requires excellent control of continuously
connected regions of nearly zero plasma beta with finite beta regions as well
as the gradient length scales of mean density and temperatures. To address some
of these phenomena at laboratory scale, a new multi-line cusp configured plasma
device (MPD) consisting of electromagnets with core material has been
constructed with a capability to experimentally control the relative volume
fractions of magnetized to unmagntized plasma volume as well as accurate
control on the gradient length scales of mean density and temperature profiles.
The hot tungsten cathode produced Argon plasma in the MPD has been
characterised using single Langmuir probes. Argon plasma has been produced in
the device over a wide range of pressure 5 x 10-5 mBar to 1 x 10-3 mBar,
achieving plasma density range from 109 to 1011cm-3 and temperature in the
range 1eV to 8eV.

Plasma Physics