Propulsion of Porous Plates in Thin Atmospheres by Temperature Fields

摘要: In low pressure environments macroscopic bodies can be subject to photo- and thermophoretic motion if temperature gradients are present. Porosity increase the efficiency of this propulsion. We developed a setup generate field measure phoretic accelerations in parabolic flight. first campaign we studied dependence acceleration for thin plates (1.7 mm thickness, 2.2 3.5 cm diameter) consisting sintered glass spheres size range 150 250 μm 40 70 μm. find evidence two characteristic propulsion maxima at pressures related overall plate as well bead (pore) size. The magnitude due porosity is on order 10−2 g specific samples. This force comparable attributed plate.