Dusty Plasmas: Space Life and Physical Sciences and Research Apps.

Dusty plasmas are four-component plasma systems consisting of the standard plasma constituents of electrons, ions, and neutral atoms, with the addition of a fourth component: charged, solid, nanometer-to-micrometer-sized particulates (i.e, the “dust” particles). In both laboratory and space environments, the dust particles become charged through the acquisition of electrons and ions from the background plasma as well as various ionizing processes such as thermionic emission or photoelectron emission. Regardless of the charging processes, the dust particles are coupled to and become part of the plasma through their charge. However, the small charge-to-mass ratio of the dust grains (relative to the electrons or ions) means that the plasma process of the dust component is slowed to time (~10-2 s) and space (~10-3 m) scales that enable simultaneous studies of plasma dynamics in both the kinetic (particle) and fluid (collective) regimes. Moreover, the small charge-to-mass ratio also allows the thermal state of the dust component to be experimentally “tuned” over a range of Coulomb-coupling parameters (i.e., , ratio of electrostatic-to-thermal energy) from the weakly-coupled ( << 1) to strongly-coupled ( >>1) regimes. This provides opportunities to explore regimes of plasma behavior that are generally difficult to achieve in standard plasmas. This proposed project seeks to perform a new investigation of controlled dusty plasma particle transport from weakly-coupled to strongly-coupled regimes. This work leverages the extensive expertise and experimental capabilities of the Auburn Dusty Plasma research group in laboratory and microgravity studies of dusty plasmas. In this work, two main activities are proposed for this one-year activity: (a) demonstration of “passively-driven, long-range” dust particle transport (i.e., transport distances >> collision mean free path) using biased electrodes to establish cyclical particle motion between several suspended dust clouds and (b) development of a programmable, segmented electrode with the ability to provide steady-state or periodic control of particle transport over long distances in a plasma. The long-term goals of this work are to develop a comprehensive understanding of dust particle transport over a broad range of experimental conditions that can lead to scaled studies of charged dust transport in environments relevant to lunar and Martian conditions. From these studies, it will be possible to provide a scientific basis for the next generation of remote and manned missions on airless and plasmaexposed bodies throughout the solar system.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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