Studies of microparticle impact phenomena leading to the development of a highly sensitive micrometeoroid detector |
| |
| Authors: | NG AdamsD Smith |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Electron Physics and Space Research, University of Birmingham, England |
| |
| Abstract: | A highly sensitive device has been developed for the detection of micrometeoroids with masses extending down to and below the expected classical solar radiation pressure limit. This limit occurs at a mass of about 10−16 kg for a particle density of 3 × 103 kg m−3. The detector operates on the principle that charge (Q) is released when a hypervelocity microparticle impacts on a solid surface. This process has previously been investigated at particle velocities (ν) greater than 1 km sec−1 and the empirical relationship Q = Kmανβ obtained where m is the particle mass and K, α and β are constants. In the present study the validity of this relationship has been demonstrated for iron particles with masses from 10−16 to 10−13 kg in the velocity range 0.05–1.4 km sec−1 impacting on a molybdenum target. A value of α ≈ 1 is indicated and a value of β of 3.2 ± 0.4 has been obtained. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
