  The inductively-heated plasma generator IPG6-B at Baylor University has been
established and characterized in previous years for use as a flexible
experimental research facility across multiple applications. The system uses a
similar plasma generator design to its twin-facilities at the University of
Stuttgart (IPG6-S) and the University of Kentucky (IPG6-UKY). The similarity
between these three devices offers the advantage to reproduce results and
provides comparability to achieve cross-referencing and verification. Sub- and
supersonic flow conditions for Mach numbers between $Ma = 0.3 - 1.4$ have been
characterized for air, argon, helium and nitrogen using a pitot probe. Overall
power coupling efficiency as well as specific bulk enthalpy of the flow have
been determined by calorimeter measurements to be between $\eta = 0.05 - 0.45$
and $h_s = 5- 35$ MJ/kg respectively depending on gas type and pressure.
Electron temperatures of $T_e = 1 - 2$ eV and densities $n_e = 10^{18} -
10^{20} m^{-3}$ have been measured using an electrostatic probe system. At
Baylor University, laboratory experiments in the areas of astrophysics,
geophysics as well as fundamental research on complex (dusty) plasmas are
planned. Most recent experiments include the study of dusty plasmas and
astrophysical phenomena and the interaction of charged dust with electric and
magnetic fields. In this case, dust can be used as a diagnostic for such fields
and can reveal essential information of the magneto-hydrodynamics in
low-temperature plasmas.
