Formation of carbon dust particles on a graphite surface irradiated by a high-density hydrogen plasma and a mixed hydrogen/helium plasma has been investigated in the NAGDIS-II linear divertor plasma simulator. Carbon dust particles are generated at the center region of the graphite surface facing the high-density plasma. No dust particles are formed in the peripheral region. These observations indicate that the re-deposition process of the hydrocarbon ions due to a strong plasma flow at the center of the plasma column is one of the key factors determining the dust growth as well as chemical sputtering. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.