Laboratory Simulations of Micrometeoroid Ablation
Each day, several tons of meteoric material enters Earth's atmosphere, the majority of which consist of small dust particles (micrometeoroids) that completely ablate at high altitudes. The dust input has been suggested to play a role in a variety of phenomena including: layers of metal atoms an...
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ftunicolboulder:oai:scholar.colorado.edu:phys_gradetds-1197 2023-05-15T16:39:20+02:00 Laboratory Simulations of Micrometeoroid Ablation Thomas, Evan Williamson 2017-01-01T08:00:00Z application/pdf https://scholar.colorado.edu/phys_gradetds/196 https://scholar.colorado.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1197&context=phys_gradetds unknown CU Scholar https://scholar.colorado.edu/phys_gradetds/196 https://scholar.colorado.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1197&context=phys_gradetds Physics Graduate Theses & Dissertations ablation dust IDP meteors micrometeoroids Atmospheric Sciences Physics text 2017 ftunicolboulder 2018-10-07T09:02:41Z Each day, several tons of meteoric material enters Earth's atmosphere, the majority of which consist of small dust particles (micrometeoroids) that completely ablate at high altitudes. The dust input has been suggested to play a role in a variety of phenomena including: layers of metal atoms and ions, nucleation of noctilucent clouds, effects on stratospheric aerosols and ozone chemistry, and the fertilization of the ocean with bio-available iron. Furthermore, a correct understanding of the dust input to the Earth provides constraints on inner solar system dust models. Various methods are used to measure the dust input to the Earth including satellite detectors, radar, lidar, rocket-borne detectors, ice core and deep-sea sediment analysis. However, the best way to interpret each of these measurements is uncertain, which leads to large uncertainties in the total dust input. To better understand the ablation process, and thereby reduce uncertainties in micrometeoroid ablation measurements, a facility has been developed to simulate the ablation of micrometeoroids in laboratory conditions. An electrostatic dust accelerator is used to accelerate iron particles to relevant meteoric velocities (10-70 km/s). The particles are then introduced into a chamber pressurized with a target gas, and they partially or completely ablate over a short distance. An array of diagnostics then measure, with timing and spatial resolution, the charge and light that is generated in the ablation process. In this thesis, we present results from the newly developed ablation facility. The ionization coefficient, an important parameter for interpreting meteor radar measurements, is measured for various target gases. Furthermore, experimental ablation measurements are compared to predictions from commonly used ablation models. In light of these measurements, implications to the broader context of meteor ablation are discussed. Text ice core University of Colorado, Boulder: CU Scholar |
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University of Colorado, Boulder: CU Scholar |
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ablation dust IDP meteors micrometeoroids Atmospheric Sciences Physics |
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ablation dust IDP meteors micrometeoroids Atmospheric Sciences Physics Thomas, Evan Williamson Laboratory Simulations of Micrometeoroid Ablation |
topic_facet |
ablation dust IDP meteors micrometeoroids Atmospheric Sciences Physics |
description |
Each day, several tons of meteoric material enters Earth's atmosphere, the majority of which consist of small dust particles (micrometeoroids) that completely ablate at high altitudes. The dust input has been suggested to play a role in a variety of phenomena including: layers of metal atoms and ions, nucleation of noctilucent clouds, effects on stratospheric aerosols and ozone chemistry, and the fertilization of the ocean with bio-available iron. Furthermore, a correct understanding of the dust input to the Earth provides constraints on inner solar system dust models. Various methods are used to measure the dust input to the Earth including satellite detectors, radar, lidar, rocket-borne detectors, ice core and deep-sea sediment analysis. However, the best way to interpret each of these measurements is uncertain, which leads to large uncertainties in the total dust input. To better understand the ablation process, and thereby reduce uncertainties in micrometeoroid ablation measurements, a facility has been developed to simulate the ablation of micrometeoroids in laboratory conditions. An electrostatic dust accelerator is used to accelerate iron particles to relevant meteoric velocities (10-70 km/s). The particles are then introduced into a chamber pressurized with a target gas, and they partially or completely ablate over a short distance. An array of diagnostics then measure, with timing and spatial resolution, the charge and light that is generated in the ablation process. In this thesis, we present results from the newly developed ablation facility. The ionization coefficient, an important parameter for interpreting meteor radar measurements, is measured for various target gases. Furthermore, experimental ablation measurements are compared to predictions from commonly used ablation models. In light of these measurements, implications to the broader context of meteor ablation are discussed. |
format |
Text |
author |
Thomas, Evan Williamson |
author_facet |
Thomas, Evan Williamson |
author_sort |
Thomas, Evan Williamson |
title |
Laboratory Simulations of Micrometeoroid Ablation |
title_short |
Laboratory Simulations of Micrometeoroid Ablation |
title_full |
Laboratory Simulations of Micrometeoroid Ablation |
title_fullStr |
Laboratory Simulations of Micrometeoroid Ablation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Laboratory Simulations of Micrometeoroid Ablation |
title_sort |
laboratory simulations of micrometeoroid ablation |
publisher |
CU Scholar |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://scholar.colorado.edu/phys_gradetds/196 https://scholar.colorado.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1197&context=phys_gradetds |
genre |
ice core |
genre_facet |
ice core |
op_source |
Physics Graduate Theses & Dissertations |
op_relation |
https://scholar.colorado.edu/phys_gradetds/196 https://scholar.colorado.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1197&context=phys_gradetds |
_version_ |
1766029670652837888 |