Characterization of Optical Emission from Ground-Based Hypervelocity Impact Experiments
Abstract
Space systems and celestial bodies are persistently exposed to impact events within the space environment. During hypervelocity impacts of these bodies by dust, debris, and meteoroids, the collective impact kinetic energy is converted to thermal and ionization energies, producing a cloud of neutral gas, multi-phase particulate ejecta, and a dense plasma. The yield of these impact products depends on the material composition, speed, and orientation of the impacting bodies. An intense optical emission originating from the impact-induced plasma is also generated during the impact event. Analysis of the time-resolved impact-generated light emission is an established diagnostic that provides useful information about gas and plasma characteristics, such as temperature and density.
This research presents time-resolved intensity characterizations of optical emissions generated from hypervelocity (3-6 km/s) impact experiments conducted using a two-stage light gas gun at the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range (AVGR). In this study, we examine interactions of an aluminum impactor with a range of target materials commonly found within the space environment, including aluminum, tungsten, FR4, regolith, and glass. Aluminum target surfaces were connected to a biasing supply to simulate and observe surface charge effects. An optical diagnostic sensor suite that includes high speed cameras, spectral photomultiplier tubes (sPMTs), and photodiodes, was used to detect light emitted during the impact events. We also present and compare the results of several approaches to characterize plasma temperature and density using models including blackbody, Bremsstrahlung, and Boltzmann emission spectra.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFM.P23C3518M
- Keywords:
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- 6022 Impact phenomena;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: COMETS AND SMALL BODIES;
- 6213 Dust;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6245 Meteors;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6265 Planetary rings;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS