A new method to generate dust with astrophysical properties

To model the size distribution and composition of interstellar and interplanetary dust grains, and their effect on a wide range of phenomena, it is vital to understand the mechanism of dust-shock interaction. We demonstrate a new laser experiment that subjects dust grains to pressure spikes similar to those of colliding astrophysical dust, and that accelerates the grains to astrophysical velocities. This new method generates much larger data sets than earlier methods; we show how large quantities (thousands) of grains are accelerated at once, rather than accelerating individual grains, as is the case of earlier methods using electric fields. We also measure the in-flight velocity ( ~ 4.5km/s) of hundreds of grains simultaneously by use of a particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. Fil: Hansen, J. F.. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Estados Unidos Fil: Van Breugel, W.. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; . University of California. Office of Undergraduate Education & School of Natural Sciences; Estados Unidos Fil: Bringa, Eduardo Marcial. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza; Argentina Fil: Eberly, B.. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Fil: Graham, G. A.. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; . The Natural History Museum. Mineralogy Department ; Reino Unido Fil: Remington, Bruce A.. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Estados Unidos Fil: Taylor, E. A.. The Open University; Reino Unido Fil: Tielens, A. G.. Leiden University. Leiden Observatory; Países Bajos