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Studies of Fundamental Particle Dynamics in MicrogravityThis work summarizes theoretical and experimental concepts used to design the flight experiment mission for SHIVA - Spaceflight Holography Investigation in a Virtual Apparatus. SHIVA is a NASA project that exploits a unique, holography-based, diagnostics tool to understand the behavior of small particles subjected to transient accelerations. The flight experiments are designed for testing model equations, measuring g, g-jitter, and other microgravity phenomena. Data collection will also include experiments lying outside of the realm of existing theory. The regime under scrutiny is the low Reynolds number, Stokes regime or creeping flow, which covers particles and bubbles moving at very low velocity. The equations describing this important regime have been under development and investigation for over 100 years and yet a complete analytical solution of the general equation had remained elusive yielding only approximations and numerical solutions. In the course of the ongoing NASA NRA, the first analytical solution of the general equation was produced by members of the investigator team using the mathematics of fractional derivatives. This opened the way to an even more insightful and important investigation of the phenomena in microgravity. Recent results include interacting particles, particle-wall interactions, bubbles, and Reynolds numbers larger than unity. The Space Station provides an ideal environment for SHIVA. Limited ground experiments have already confirmed some aspects of the theory. In general the space environment is required for the overall experiment, especially for cases containing very heavy particles, very light particles, bubbles, collections of particles and for characterization of the space environment and its effect on particle experiments. Lightweight particles and bubbles typically rise too fast in a gravitational field and heavy particles sink too fast. In a microgravity environment, heavy and light particles can be studied side-by-side for long periods of time.
Document ID
20010037822
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rangel, Roger
(California Univ. Irvine, CA United States)
Trolinger, James D.
(MetroLaser Irvine, CA United States)
Coimbra, Carlos F. M.
(Hawaii Univ. Manoa, HI United States)
Witherow, William
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Rogers, Jan
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Rose, M. Franklin
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Space Processing
Meeting Information
Meeting: Microgravity Interdisciplinary Conference
Location: Banff
Country: Canada
Start Date: September 29, 2001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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