title: A zero-gravity instrument to study low velocity collisions of fragile particles at low temperatures.
abstract: We discuss the design, operation, and performance of a vacuum setup constructed for use in zero (or reduced) gravity conditions to initiate collisions of fragile millimeter-sized particles at low velocity and temperature. Such particles are typically found in many astronomical settings and in regions of planet formation. The instrument has participated in four parabolic flight campaigns to date, operating for a total of 2.4 h in reduced-gravity conditions and successfully recording over 300 separate collisions of loosely packed dust aggregates and ice samples. The imparted particle velocities achieved range from 0.03 to 0.28 m s(-1) and a high-speed, high-resolution camera captures the events at 107 frames/s from two viewing angles separated by either 48.8 degrees or 60.0 degrees. The particles can be stored inside the experiment vacuum chamber at temperatures of 80-300 K for several uninterrupted hours using a built-in thermal accumulation system. The copper structure allows cooling down to cryogenic temperatures before commencement of the experiments. Throughout the parabolic flight campaigns, add-ons and modifications have been made, illustrating the instrument flexibility in the study of small particle collisions.
authors: Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Postbus 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Salter
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Heisselmann
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Chaparro
authors: G
authors: G
authors: van der Wolk
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Reissaus
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Borst
authors: R W
authors: RW
authors: Dawson
authors: E
authors: E
authors: de Kuyper
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Drinkwater
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Gebauer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hutcheon
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Linnartz
authors: F J
authors: FJ
authors: Molster
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Stoll
authors: P C
authors: PC
authors: van der Tuijn
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Fraser
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Blum
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003300:Copper; D004391:Dust; D004867:Equipment Design; D007053:Ice; D009038:Motion; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014618:Vacuum; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D007053:Ice; D003300:Copper