Complex plasma research on ISS PKE-Nefedov, PK-3 Plus, PK-4, and impact laboratory

Abstract

The international research on ISS in dusty plasma (also known as complex plasma) under prolonged microgravity condition entered a new area in March 2001: The PKE-Nefedov facility (formerly called PKE 3) performed its first experiment in radio-frequency induced complex plasmas. This bilateral German–Russian research facility operated successfully in over 13 missions over 5 years until its internal resources were consumed—resulting so far in over 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications. In place of PKE-Nefedov is the next generation experiment apparatus PK 3 Plus with refined and more powerful instruments and diagnostics, which had its on-orbit commissioning in January 2006. While PK 3 Plus will further investigate the radio-frequency induced plasmas for the next few years the new PK-4 research facility is under development for investigation of direct-current induced complex plasma. Because the highly successful series of stand-alone PK experiment facilities cover only a fraction of the overall complex plasma research field the IMPACT (International Multi-User Plasma, Atmospheric and Cosmic Dust Twin) Laboratory project was initiated. The IMPF/ICAPS (IMPACT) Laboratory is the logical next step to provide a home and rallying point for the worldwide growing research efforts under microgravity conditions in the fields of dusty plasma and interactions of cosmic and atmospheric particle systems.