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Microgravity studies of aggregation in particulate clouds
Author(s) -
Marshall J. R.,
Sauke T. B.,
Cuzzi J. N.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl022567
Subject(s) - particulates , volcano , atmospheric sciences , volcanic ash , aerosol , quartz , turbulence , impact crater , particle (ecology) , formation and evolution of the solar system , physics , astrobiology , environmental science , materials science , astrophysics , geology , meteorology , solar system , chemistry , geochemistry , oceanography , organic chemistry , composite material
Aggregation in clouds of submillimeter quartz and volcanic ash particles was studied in microgravity. Particle clouds generated by pulses of air immediately formed electrostatic filamentary aggregates upon cessation of air turbulence. Manual agitation of experiment chambers produced cm‐size loose grain clusters which voraciously scavenged free‐floating material in their vicinity. A dipole model accounts for these observations. Experimental results have ramifications for the behavior of natural cloud systems and primary accretion of solids in the early solar nebula.