TY  - JOUR
A1  - Koch, Tamara
A1  - Spahr, Dominik
A1  - Tkalcec, Beverley J.
A1  - Christ, Oliver
A1  - Genzel, Philomena-Theresa
A1  - Lindner, Miles
A1  - Merges, David
A1  - Wilde, Fabian
A1  - Winkler, Björn
A1  - Brenker, Frank E.
T1  - Formation of fused aggregates under long-term microgravity conditions aboard the ISS with implications for early solar system particle aggregation
T2  - Meteoritics & planetary science
N2  - In order to gain further insights into early solar system aggregation processes, we carried out an experiment on board the International Space Station, which allowed us to study the behavior of dust particles exposed to electric arc discharges under long-term microgravity. The experiment led to the formation of robust, elongated, fluffy aggregates, which were studied by scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and synchrotron micro-computed tomography. The morphologies of these aggregates strongly resemble the typical shapes of fractal fluffy-type calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs). We conclude that a small amount of melting could have supplied the required stability for such fractal structures to have survived transportation and aggregation to and compaction within planetesimals. Other aggregates produced in our experiment have a massy morphology and contain relict grains, likely resulting from the collision of grains with different degrees of melting, also observed in some natural CAIs. Some particles are surrounded by igneous rims, which remind in thickness and crystal orientation of Wark–Lovering rims; another aggregate shows similarities to disk-shaped CAIs. These results imply that a (flash-)heating event with subsequent aggregation could have been involved in the formation of different morphological CAI characteristics.
Y1  - 2022
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/78000
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-780007
SN  - 1945-5100
N1  - Funding:  We are grateful for financial support provided by the Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Stiftung, the German Aerospace Center DLR, NanoRacks LLC, DreamUp, Biovia, the BmWi (50JR1704) and DFG (BR2015/35-1; Wi1232/44-1), Nordlicht GmbH, and ZEISS.
VL  - 57
IS  - 6
SP  - 1174
EP  - 1193
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken, NJ
ER  -