Physics of hard spheres experiment: a general-purpose light-scattering instrument

摘要

A general-purpose, multifunction light-scattering instrument has been developed at the NASA Lewis Research Center for Space Shuttle and Space Station colloid crystallization and other microgravity experiments. For a single sample, the instrument can measure two-dimensional Bragg scattering from 0.5 degrees to 60 degrees, dynamic and static light scattering from 10 degrees to 170 degrees, the shear modulus of samples before and after crystallization, and digital color images of the-sample. A carousel positions any one of eight 3-ml samples into the test position for separate experiments. Program challenges and flight results from the STS-83 Space Shuttle mission are discussed. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.