Experimental studies on the interaction of micron-sized dust particles in plasmas with external magnetic fields are presented. The particles are levitated in the sheath region of an rf discharge by gravity and electric field force under the presence of a horizontal magnetic field of up to 50 mT. It is observed that the dust particles are pushed either in the (E) over right arrow x (B) over right arrow -or in the opposite direction depending on magnetic field strength, particle properties, and discharge conditions. This transport behavior is described by a competition between horizontal ambipolar electric field force and ion and neutral drag. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.
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