Goal:
The PK-4 project is intended to fly a dc-discharge tube (*modified with rf
inductive coils for confinement and manipulation) on the ISS in order to
conduct complex plasma experiments under microgravity conditions. Compared to
the rf experiments previously flown (see the
Plasmakristall pages), the dc chamber allows greater optical
access for diagnostics as well as laser manipulation. Examples of experiments
which are planned for PK-4 are "Ion drag force measurements", "Measurement of
particle charge", "Compression-freezing", "Shear flow/transition to turbulence",
"Self-organization/non-equilibrium phase transitions", etc.
The project will be conducted in close collaboration with our colleagues from
the Institute of High Energy Densities (IHED) of the Russian Academy of
Science. (Visit also the
IHED
Homepage.)
The pre-development phase, supported by DLR from August 2002 to December
2004 is now completed. In addition to the construction of a laboratory
and parabolic flight experiment set-up, scientific results on the particle
charge and the ion drag force in laboratory experiments and under
microgravity in two ESA parabolic flight campaigns were obtained and
published. The continuation of the laboratory set-up and further
experiments are supported by DLR from February 2005 to January 2008.
Furthermore, there was a phase A/B study at ESA on the implementation
of PK-4 on board of the ISS. The project is now continued in phase
C/D.
MPE proudly presents:
