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Velocity distributions in a gas-gun microparticle accelerator
Siria Barrios1, Pedro Lance1, Anabella A Abate1
1Department of Physics, Universidad Nacional del Sur - IFISUR - CONICET, 8000 Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|November 1, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a gas-gun microparticle accelerator to study particle impacts. This device precisely controls particle velocity and size, aiding research in material science and impact dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Engineering
Background:
- Microparticle accelerators are crucial for studying impact phenomena.
- Understanding particle acceleration dynamics is key to controlling impact experiments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize a novel single-stage gas-gun microparticle accelerator.
- To investigate the influence of various parameters on microparticle velocity distribution.
- To utilize the accelerator for controlled impact studies on poly-dimethylsiloxane films.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a single-stage gas-gun microparticle accelerator.
- Acceleration of microparticles (60-250 μm) using pressurized nitrogen.
- High-speed imaging to analyze particle velocity influenced by size, pressure, valve timing, and diaphragm properties.
- Impact experiments using glass particles (69 ± 6 μm) at 10-25 m/s on poly-dimethylsiloxane targets.
Main Results:
- The microparticle accelerator successfully accelerates particles in the specified size range.
- Particle velocity distribution is demonstrably affected by gas pressure, particle size, and mechanical parameters of the accelerator.
- Controlled impacts on poly-dimethylsiloxane were achieved with characterized glass microparticles.
Conclusions:
- The developed gas-gun microparticle accelerator provides a controllable platform for impact research.
- The study quantifies the relationship between accelerator parameters and particle velocity.
- This system enables precise investigation of microparticle impacts on soft materials.
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