Measurement of the Electrical properties of Suspended Martian dust

Computer Science

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

Wind born dust is one of the most influential and enigmatic components of the Martian environment. Quantification of the electrical charge of this dust would be of both scientific interest and important for the safety of instruments on the Martian surface. Investigations at the Aarhus Mars Windtunnel facility have shown that Mars analogue dust, once suspended, is highly charged and consists of almost equal quantities of negatively and positively charged grains. This electrical charging is sufficient to dominate the processes of cohesion and adhesion of the suspended dust. There was evidence for electrostatic aggregation of dust grains while in suspension. Such aggregation is of great importance to the transport of the dust by affecting the size, morphology and possibly the constitution of the grains. Observations indicate a surface chemical origin for this electrical charge and allows for the possibility of using the measurement of dust electrification as a probe of the dusts surface composition. A simple instrument is being developed for performing similar studies on the surface of Mars. Such measurements would be capable of quantifying the electrical charge of the suspended Martian dust and might therefore help to identify its mineralogy and origin.

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