IMPACT
Encyclopedia
This article is on the international collaboration called IMPACT. For the charitable organisation, see IMPACT (organisation)
. For the Irish trade union, see Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union
. For the television show, see Impact Wrestling.
IMPACT (International
Multi-user Plasma
, Atmospheric and Cosmic dust
Twin laboratory
) is a successful merger of many different science
communities that need similar instrumentation and resources. IMPACT is a merger of IMPF (International Microgravity Plasma Facility) and ICAPS (Interactions in Cosmic
and Atmospheric Particle Systems), originally conceived as two separate experimental facilities, both with their own development history. In May 2002, the dedicated scientific advisory boards for the IMPF and ICPAS recommended the combination of the two experiments into one ESA research laboratory.
Both projects share hardware, space station
accommodation and operations, and data processing
and downloading functions in common. By consolidating these systems into a single laboratory
significant reductions have been made to the overall project cost, by eliminating the duplication of expensive development, manufacturing, and qualification tasks.
to atmospheric physics
and dust
particle physics
. Items that will be studied are:
Microgravity plays a fundamental role for achieving the desired scientific objectives: be it by significantly enhancing the resident time of particles within the experimental volume/plasma, by suppressing size-discrimination effects due to the absence of differential
motion, by eliminating weight-induced aggregate compaction, or by getting rid of convection
instabilities in the carrier gas.
of the IMPACT facility has led to several precursor instruments. These science precursors aim to demonstrate the feasibility of some of the proposed techniques and to serve the scientists. Although it is clear that these science precursors will not be able to answer all the scientific questions that the scientists have, it will already give them valuable information about some basic processes and will also help to define the scientific programme they want to perform on IMPACT.
Currently, two precursors, PK-4 (Plasmakristallexperiment 4), related to complex plasma physics, and IPE (ICAPS Precursor Experiment), related to atmospheric and cosmic dust physics, are under development.
IMPACT is envisioned to be launched in 2009.
IMPACT (organisation)
IMPACT is an international initiative which focusses on preventive and social health and promote awareness and intervention to prevent avoidable disability. Founded in 1980s by Sir John Wilson, IMPACT was formed as a part of the UNs Decade of disabled people...
. For the Irish trade union, see Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union
Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union
The Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union is a trade union in the Republic of Ireland. It primarily organises workers in education, health, local government and the civil service...
. For the television show, see Impact Wrestling.
IMPACT (International
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
Multi-user Plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
, Atmospheric and Cosmic dust
Cosmic dust
Cosmic dust is a type of dust composed of particles in space which are a few molecules to 0.1 µm in size. Cosmic dust can be further distinguished by its astronomical location; for example: intergalactic dust, interstellar dust, interplanetary dust and circumplanetary dust .In our own Solar...
Twin laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
) is a successful merger of many different science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
communities that need similar instrumentation and resources. IMPACT is a merger of IMPF (International Microgravity Plasma Facility) and ICAPS (Interactions in Cosmic
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
and Atmospheric Particle Systems), originally conceived as two separate experimental facilities, both with their own development history. In May 2002, the dedicated scientific advisory boards for the IMPF and ICPAS recommended the combination of the two experiments into one ESA research laboratory.
Both projects share hardware, space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
accommodation and operations, and data processing
Data processing
Computer data processing is any process that a computer program does to enter data and summarise, analyse or otherwise convert data into usable information. The process may be automated and run on a computer. It involves recording, analysing, sorting, summarising, calculating, disseminating and...
and downloading functions in common. By consolidating these systems into a single laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
significant reductions have been made to the overall project cost, by eliminating the duplication of expensive development, manufacturing, and qualification tasks.
Scientific goals
IMPACT will be designed to serve a wide range of scientific areas. Ranging from plasma physicsPlasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
to atmospheric physics
Atmospheric physics
Atmospheric physics is the application of physics to the study of the atmosphere. Atmospheric physicists attempt to model Earth's atmosphere and the atmospheres of the other planets using fluid flow equations, chemical models, radiation balancing, and energy transfer processes in the atmosphere...
and dust
Dust
Dust consists of particles in the atmosphere that arise from various sources such as soil dust lifted up by wind , volcanic eruptions, and pollution...
particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
. Items that will be studied are:
-
- Complex plasmasPlasma (physics)In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
(both RFRadio frequencyRadio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
and DCDirect currentDirect current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
controlled) in the strongly coupled regime, when electrostatic forces between particles are much stronger than any thermalThermalA thermal column is a column of rising air in the lower altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere. Thermals are created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface from solar radiation, and are an example of convection. The sun warms the ground, which in turn warms the air directly above it...
effects. This will allow the study of fluidFluidIn physics, a fluid is a substance that continually deforms under an applied shear stress. Fluids are a subset of the phases of matter and include liquids, gases, plasmas and, to some extent, plastic solids....
behaviour, interface/boundary behaviour, phase changes, wave propagationWave propagationWave propagation is any of the ways in which waves travel.With respect to the direction of the oscillation relative to the propagation direction, we can distinguish between longitudinal wave and transverse waves....
etc. - The behaviour of aerosolAerosolTechnically, an aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke. In general conversation, aerosol usually refers to an aerosol spray can or the output of such a can...
particles in a non-convective gasGasGas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
, and the microphysicsPhysicsPhysics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
of clouds. - The phoretic effects on aerosol particles with and without phase transitionPhase transitionA phase transition is the transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase or state of matter to another.A phase of a thermodynamic system and the states of matter have uniform physical properties....
of waterWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
respectively relevant for cloud formation and for the abatement of industrial effluents. - The mutual interaction of dust particles and agglomerates having different velocityVelocityIn physics, velocity is speed in a given direction. Speed describes only how fast an object is moving, whereas velocity gives both the speed and direction of the object's motion. To have a constant velocity, an object must have a constant speed and motion in a constant direction. Constant ...
fields, with application to pre-planetaryPlanetaryPlanetary means relating to a planet or planets. It can also refer to:* Planetary , a comic book series by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday* Planetary habitability, the measure of an astronomical body's potential to develop and sustain life...
aggregation mechanisms. - The morphologicalShapeThe shape of an object located in some space is a geometrical description of the part of that space occupied by the object, as determined by its external boundary – abstracting from location and orientation in space, size, and other properties such as colour, content, and material...
, mechanicalMechanicsMechanics is the branch of physics concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment....
, and optical properties of regoliths in microgravity. - The lightLightLight or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
-scattering properties, both optical and morphological, of dust aggregates in the solar systemSolar SystemThe Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
.
- Complex plasmas
Microgravity plays a fundamental role for achieving the desired scientific objectives: be it by significantly enhancing the resident time of particles within the experimental volume/plasma, by suppressing size-discrimination effects due to the absence of differential
Differential
-Mathematics:* Differential comprises multiple related meanings of the word, both in calculus and differential geometry, such as an infinitesimal change in the value of a function* Differential algebra* Differential calculus...
motion, by eliminating weight-induced aggregate compaction, or by getting rid of convection
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
instabilities in the carrier gas.
Science precursors
The complexityComplexity
In general usage, complexity tends to be used to characterize something with many parts in intricate arrangement. The study of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory. In science there are at this time a number of approaches to characterizing complexity, many of which are...
of the IMPACT facility has led to several precursor instruments. These science precursors aim to demonstrate the feasibility of some of the proposed techniques and to serve the scientists. Although it is clear that these science precursors will not be able to answer all the scientific questions that the scientists have, it will already give them valuable information about some basic processes and will also help to define the scientific programme they want to perform on IMPACT.
Currently, two precursors, PK-4 (Plasmakristallexperiment 4), related to complex plasma physics, and IPE (ICAPS Precursor Experiment), related to atmospheric and cosmic dust physics, are under development.
IMPACT is envisioned to be launched in 2009.