Lunar Swirls and Plasma Magnetic Field Interaction in the Laboratory

Introduction: At the Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research (CASPER) at Baylor University, Texas, a GEC reference cell has been used to conduct experiments investigating magnetic field plasma surface interactions. The results of these experiments shall be used to help understand the formation of lunar swirls which are known to be located close to regions of magnetic anomalies. Strong crustal magnetic fields can influence the lunar plasma environment by separating charges and thus creating electric fields. This in turn can alter the incoming solar wind flux and dust transport processes. Experiments have been conducted to map electric forces in a plasma close to a magnet using dust as a probe. These experiments were conducted in preparation for future experiments within flowing plasma, representing the solar wind, which will be accomplished using the inductively heated plasma generator (IPG6-B) developed in close collaboration with the Institute of Space Systems (IRS), University of Stuttgart, Germany.