OPTICAL MOTION CONTROL APPLIED TO THE ATMOSPHERIC CLOUD PHYSICS LABORATORY (ACPL)

The use of laser radiation pressure for optical motion control (OMC) of spherical water droplets (5-130 /μm radius) is discussed. It is shown that a Gaussian beam can be used to manipulate and stabilize individual particles for studying cloud droplet or ice crystal growth and for investigating collision/coalescence phenomena. In the near-zero-gravity environment of the Atmospheric Cloud Physics Laboratory (ACPL) payload on Shuttle/Spacelab, OMC can provide 1) velocities from < 0.01 to 5 cm/s; 2) precise positioning (±5/μm) of water droplets up to 130 jun; and 3) simulation of 1-g conditions (velocity or acceleration) for droplets of up to - 13 jim. ACPL experiments benefiting from OMC are also discussed. © 1979 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., All rights reserved.