Particle Vibration, an Instrument to Study Particle Accumulation Structures On Board the International Space Station

Abstract The scientific and technological aspects of the PARTICLE VIBRATION Project (also known as T-PAOLA i.e. “Thermovibrationally-driven Particle self-Assembly Ordering mechanisms in Low grAvity”) are described detail. project relies on combined use Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument (SODI), a Class-2 device developed by ESA for experiments field fluids board International Space Station, Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), Class-1 general purpose facility under responsibility NASA. related modular architecture has recently been expanded umbrella new research funded UK Agency to allow novel class dealing with multiphase (solid-liquid) flows. final aim this microgravity is identification dispersed-phase self-organization phenomena driven application vibrations ensuing development contactless particle manipulations strategies. In present paper, emphasis given space hardware software, experiment protocol, ground tests procedures all adaptations that had be implemented overcome number physical issues, both system-specific.