Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2009
Abstract
A microgravity experiment to test the electrostatic behavior of a lunar dust simulant being charged through the photoelectric effect will expand understanding of the charging characteristics of dust particles and may lead to a possible mitigation solution. With a design based upon Robert Milikan's oil-drop experiment, this experiment is designed to observe the interactions of a lunar dust simulant without the conflicting effects of a dominant gravitational force. The dust particles will be charged by means of a lamp capable of photon energies necessary to emit electrons by the photoelectric effect. In the presence of an axial electric field, the photo-electrons and charged dust will be attracted to opposing sides of a capacitor and the net charge over time as well as physical trajectories of the particles can be determined.
Recommended Citation
Munro, Troy; Fassmann, Andrew; and Dennison, JR, "Photoelectric Charging by Ultraviolet Light of a Lunar Dust Simulant in a Microgravity Environment" (2009). Posters. Paper 11.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gas_post/11
Comments
This work made publicly available electronically on April 16, 2012.