Oxygen Atom Source for Low Orbit Simulation

We propose to provide a custom design of labortary facility for low Earth orbit material testing which incorporates a fast oxygen atom source capable of operation over the velocity range of -5 to 11 km/s with flux greater than 5 x 10(15) cm-2 s-1 over a beam diameter exceeding 10 cm. The beam properties will be characterized by a suite of innovative diagnostics with preliminary characterization being performed in Phase I. The source will expand upon technology previously developed in constructing an 8km/s oxygen atom source. This technique utilizes laser breakdown in pure oxygen to create a pulse of ions which subsequently recombine during hypersonic expansion to produce a nearly mono-energetic beam of neutral oxygen atoms.