Title

New Technique For Levitating Solid Particles Using A Proton Beam

Abstract

A new technique for levitating solid particles inside a vacuum chamber is developed using a proton beam. This new technique differs from the classical laser-levitation technique invented by Ashkin in that it does not heat up light-absorbing levitated particles to vaporization. This unique property of the method will make it possible to levitate real interplanetary dust particles in a vacuum chamber and study their spin-up dynamics in a ground-based laboratory. It is found that a flux of protons from a proton gun of ≃1015 cm-2 sec-1 is needed to levitate a 10-mm particle. Confinement of the levitated particle can be achieved by a Z or θ pinch to create a gravity well, or by making the beam profile doughnut in shape. In levitating real interplanetary particles, two spin-up mechanisms can be investigated using this technique: one is the Paddack Effect and the other is a spin-up mechanism by the interaction of F-coronal dust with CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections), suggested by this author. The real interplanetary particles were collected by Brownlee and associates (also known as the Brownlee Particles) from the earth's upper atmosphere. It is anticipated that other applications of studying micron-sized particles in a microgravity environment using this technique will develop as the scientific community is made aware of this new technique.

Publication Date

1-1-1996

Publication Title

Laser and Particle Beams

Volume

14

Issue

3

Number of Pages

501-510

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1017/s026303460001017x

Socpus ID

0030410724 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0030410724

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