PLASMA CRYSTAL RESEARCH ON THE ISS (PK-3 PLUS)
Research Area: Fundamental Physics
Expedition(s): 12- 40
Principle Investigator(s): ● Gregor Morfill, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics,
Garching, Germany
● Vladimir E. Fortov, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow,
Russia
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Plasma crystals form under certain
conditions in complex (dusty)
plasma when electrically charged
dust particles arrange themselves
in a regular macroscopic crystal
lattice under favorable
parameters. This structure allows
for an investigation of the
properties of condensed matter on
the kinetic level. This means that
basic processes, such as melting
and movement, can be followed by
observing the motion of individual
particles. Plasma Crystal Research
on the ISS (PK-3) gives researchers
a better understanding of plasma
in space and helps to determine
the critical points where crystalline structures appear in the plasma.
EARTH BENEFITS
Plasma studies in outer space could provide answers to our questions about terrestrial plasmas
such as lightning.
SPACE BENEFITS
Learning more about the space environment helps us better explore it. We can work safer,
understand better, and ultimately travel further if we know more about the plasmas of space.
RESULTS
The PK-3 Plus experiments were dedicated to observe basic, complex plasma conditions and
provide much better insights into the properties of complex plasmas. The difference between
using argon or neon as the neutral gas was clear to see. Argon plasma showed a brighter glow,
corresponding to a higher ionization rate close to the electrodes. The neon plasma showed a
homogeneous distribution of the glow between the 2 electrodes. Although one could imagine
that a homogeneous plasma distribution would cause a similar distribution in a complex
plasma, the experiments showed the opposite. The argon distribution gives the best conditions
German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter aboard the International Space
Station with the PK-3 Plus laboratory. The Experiment Container is
mounted in the Service Module. NASA image.