Recent results of studies of complex plasmas on board the International Space Station

Complex plasmas consist of microparticles embedded in a low temperature plasma. The microparticles acquire strongly negative charges and interact with each other, leading to a multitude of collective effects. Since they are relatively large and heavy, their dynamics is slow enough to be observed on the level of individual particles. However, for the same reason, in ground experiments the microparticles sediment towards the plasma sheath, and large homogeneous microparticle clouds do not form. Therefore, we perform experiments under microgravity conditions on board the International Space Station. In this talk, I present recent results obtained with the Russian-German complex plasma laboratory PK-3 Plus (consisting of a capacitively coupled plasma chamber) and the Russian-European laboratory PK-4 (a direct current plasma tube) in which we study complex plasma fluids and crystals on the level of the constituive particles.