Plasma Physics in Microgravity

Complex or dusty plasmas are low-temperature plasmas containing microparticles (dust grains). Due to the charging of the microparticles in the plasma, they build a strongly coupled many-body system which can be used as a model for dynamical processes such as phase transitions. In order to avoid the disturbing influence of gravity on the microparticles, experiments are performed under microgravity in parabolic flights and onboard the ISS. In the present talk I will give an introduction to the physics of complex plasmas and discuss microgravity experiments, in particular using the PK-4 facility presently onboard the ISS.