title: Laboratory drop towers for the experimental simulation of dust-aggregate collisions in the early solar system.
abstract: For the purpose of investigating the evolution of dust aggregates in the early Solar System, we developed two vacuum drop towers in which fragile dust aggregates with sizes up to ~10 cm and porosities up to 70% can be collided. One of the drop towers is primarily used for very low impact speeds down to below 0.01 m/sec and makes use of a double release mechanism. Collisions are recorded in stereo-view by two high-speed cameras, which fall along the glass vacuum tube in the center-of-mass frame of the two dust aggregates. The other free-fall tower makes use of an electromagnetic accelerator that is capable of gently accelerating dust aggregates to up to 5 m/sec. In combination with the release of another dust aggregate to free fall, collision speeds up to ~10 m/sec can be achieved. Here, two fixed high-speed cameras record the collision events. In both drop towers, the dust aggregates are in free fall during the collision so that they are weightless and match the conditions in the early Solar System.
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig; j.blum@tu-bs.de.
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Blum
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: Eike
authors: E
authors: Beitz
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: Mohtashim
authors: M
authors: Bukhari
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: Bastian
authors: B
authors: Gundlach
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: Jan-Hendrik
authors: JH
authors: Hagemann
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Heißelmann
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Kothe
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Schräpler
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: Ingo
authors: I
authors: von Borstel
authors: Institut für Geophysik und extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig.
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Weidling
mesh_terms: D019443:Cosmic Dust; D019419:Evolution, Planetary; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment / Q000737:chemistry*; D016082:Solar System; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D019443:Cosmic Dust