ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Characterising the amorphicity and porosity of ice aggregates in planet-forming collisions

Abstract: With the discovery of almost 3000 exo-planets it is clear that planet formation is a by-product of star formation, yet in the micron ? cm size range, where relative velocities are just a few cm s-1, we still do not know how particles ?stick? forming larger ?boulders? until gravitational interactions lead to planet formation. It is postulated both ice-coated silicate aggregates may be the key. Here we propose to exploit the unique NIMROD fast acquisition times and wide Q-range to measure the meso-scale porosity of icy grain analogues, the aggregate granularity and porosity, concurrently with the inter-molecular bulk structure, and the subsequent evolution of the grains on heating. This will characterise particle size, shape, porosity and crystallinity vs amorphicity distributions, vital parameters when studying particle collisions and converting empirical data to planet forming models.

Principal Investigator: Dr Helen Fraser
Experimenter: Dr Tristan Youngs
Experimenter: Dr Sabrina Gaertner
Experimenter: Dr Bastian Gundlach
Experimenter: Professor Jurgen Blum
Experimenter: Dr Daniel Bowron
Experimenter: Dr Sergio Ioppolo
Experimenter: Miss Catherine Hill
Experimenter: Miss Judy Ratte

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1520425

ISIS Experiment Number: RB1520425

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Helen Fraser et al; (2015): Characterising the amorphicity and porosity of ice aggregates in planet-forming collisions , STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1520425