Complex plasma research on the ISS - The PK-4 Facility

Kurzfassung

Complex plasmas are plasmas containing small solid particles, typically in the micrometer range, which are charged through the collection of plasma electrons and ions. These plasmas are specially prepared to study fundamental processes in the strong coupling regime on the most fundamental (kinetic) level, through the observation of individual microparticles and their interactions. Complex plasma research under microgravity conditions complements the research in the laboratory. Due to reduction of the main force on microparticles in the lab – gravity - it is possible to form complex plasmas in the bulk region of plasmas in homogeneous large 3D systems and to investigate other phenomena than those accessible on Earth in detail. Already a long term history on research on the ISS exists with the Russian-German bilateral projects PKE-Nefedov (operational from 2001-20015) and PK-3 Plus (2006-2013). This research now is continued with the Russian-European facility PK-4 installed in the Columbus Module onboard the ISS. In October 2015 the scientific phase started and it is planned to operate the lab for the next four years. Plasma Kristal-4 (PK-4) is a joint ESA–ROSCOSMOS facility which is operated by Russian cosmonauts on a bilateral agreement basis. The facility is available for the performance of dedicated science topics for cooperation partners as well as for the international science community. In this presentation we will show the actual status of PK-4 on the ISS and its science objectives.