Ionizing body collection device and collection method

Abstract

To provide a device and a method for collecting an ionization body.SOLUTION: A device for collecting an ionization body comprises: a single or a plurality of container bodies having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, and an opening at an upper portion of the peripheral wall; a particle collision portion formed on a bottom portion of the container body; and one or more ionization body collecting portions formed on at least one of an inner surface and a bottom surface of the container body. It is preferable that a plurality of the ionization body collecting portions are formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall, and the plurality of ionization body collecting portions have affinity for individually different elements.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ion collection device and a collection method.

Background Art

[0002] There are innumerable solid particles less than 1 mm in the cosmic space. In the interplanetary space including the Earth, there are solid particles derived from small celestial bodies in the solar system such as comets and asteroids and interstellar matter, called cosmic dust or micrometeoroids. It is considered that tens of thousands of tons of cosmic dust reach the Earth every year, and it is considered that the Earth's seawater and constituent substances that are raw materials for life are included therein. Therefore, it is considered that scientific information regarding the Earth's sea, life, the formation and evolution of the solar system itself, and the cosmic space outside the solar system can be obtained by analyzing and researching these natural solid particles of invisible size. On the other hand, solid substances derived from human space activities called microspace debris orbit on the Earth's orbit, and these solid substances are being observed, measured, collected, analyzed, etc. as harmful substances that cause physical destruction, attitude disturbance, surface deterioration, and contamination of operating artificial satellites.

[0003] As factors that make it difficult to collect these solid particles existing in the cosmic space, in addition to the extremely small size that is invisible to the naked eye, the meeting speed with a space machine reaches the ultra-high speed region. For example, the orbital speed of microspace debris in low Earth orbit is 8 km per second, and the meeting speed of comet-origin cosmic dust that is the source of meteor showers with the Earth reaches a maximum of 70 km per second. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has, as an experiment to collect these solid particles in the cosmic space, exposed a dedicated collection panel to the outer wall of the ISS (International Space Station) for more than one year, and then recovered it to a ground laboratory, and continuously analyzed the collected samples over a five-year period from 2015 to 2020.

[0004] The aforementioned panel is characterized by its two-layer structure, with the surface exposed to space being approximately 2 cm thick, consisting of a low-density silica aerogel and an aluminum alloy outer container that secures it to the outer wall of the ISS. Furthermore, this panel utilizes a system that slows down ultra-high-speed impacting particles using silica aerogel, capturing them before they reach the aluminum base, minimizing damage and alteration. The panel is then returned to Earth to examine the details of the particles trapped in the silica aerogel and the impact marks left on the aluminum alloy outer container. Similar panels, consisting of silica aerogel embedded in an aluminum alloy frame, have been used in Europe and the United States since the 1990s to collect solid particles in space. However, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) space experiment can be said to have succeeded in collecting particles in space because it used the lowest density aerogel ever developed (see Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Makoto Tabata, Hideyuki Kawai, Hajime Yano, Eiichi Imai, Hirofumi Hashimoto, Shin-ichi Yokobori, Akihiko Yamagishi, Ultralow-density double-layer silica aerogel fabrication for the intact capture of cosmic dust in low-Earth orbits, Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, 77(2), p325-334, (2015). [Non-Patent Document 2] Makoto Tabata, Hajime Yano, Hideyuki Kawai, Eiichi Imai, Yuko Kawaguchi, Hirofumi Hashimoto, Akihiko Yamagishi: Silica aerogel for capturing intact interplanetary dust particles for the Tanpopo experiment, ORIGINS OF LIFE AND EVOLUTION OF BIOSPHERES, 45(1-2), p225-229, (2015). [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] These conventional technologies using low-density collecting materials focus on reducing fracture and alteration by suppressing the maximum temperature reached by impacting particles as they decelerate while damaging the inside of the collecting material. However, collecting solid particles that collide at extremely high speeds of over 15 km per second, as is being considered for future deep space exploration, in a way that completely avoids destruction, melting, and ionization is considered difficult, even when using low-density collection materials such as silica aerogel.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and aims to provide an ionized material collection device and collection method that can reliably capture material information from solid particles that collide at extremely high speeds in outer space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The inventors re-examined methods for collecting solid microparticles using low-density collecting materials such as silica aerogel, and researched a collection method based on a completely different concept from conventional methods for capturing material information of solid microparticles flying at extremely high speeds in outer space. As a result, we hypothesized that by intentionally ionizing solid microparticles that make a primary collision with a target at the aforementioned velocity range, and then causing the resulting mixture of ionized and gaseous substances to make a secondary collision with the wall of a collection container using plasma coating and reactive sputtering methods, it would be possible to leave material information of the colliding microparticles on the inner wall of the collection device.

[0009] This invention was made to solve the above problems, and has the following configuration as a means. (1) The ionizing body collection device according to this embodiment is The invention comprises one or more container bodies having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, with an opening at the upper part of the peripheral wall; a particle impact section formed at the bottom of the container body; and an ionized material collection section formed on at least one of the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the bottom surface of the container body, wherein multiple ionized material collection sections are formed on at least one of the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the bottom surface, and each of the multiple ionized material collection sections formed on at least one of the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the bottom surface has an affinity for a different element.

[0010] In this configuration, when a spacecraft equipped with an ionized material collection device is moving through or present in space, solid particles present in space fly towards the collection device and enter the container body at high speed through the opening of the container body. When solid particles collide with a particle impactor located at the bottom of the container body, a mixture of gaseous material and plasma-enhanced ionized material is released by the particle impactor and collides with ionized material collection sections on at least one of the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the bottom surface. Since outer space is a vacuum, the mixture of ionized material and gaseous material derived from the solid particles is adsorbed into the ionized material collection section, and the mixture of ionized material and gaseous material derived from the solid particles can be collected as a deposit in the ionized material collection section. Furthermore, by placing an ionized material collection section on the bottom surface of the collection container, it is assumed that when fine particles collide with it, the ionized material collection section will also be plasma-generated along with the constituent materials of the fine particles. This configuration allows both the constituent elements of the fine particles and the ionized material collection material to be plasma-generated, deposited on the inner wall, and collected.

[0011] (2) Ionizing body collection device according to this embodiment The device comprises a plurality of container bodies having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, with an opening at the upper part of the peripheral wall; a particle impact section formed at the bottom of the container body; and an ionized material collection section formed on at least one of the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the bottom surface of the container body, wherein the ionized material collection sections formed in the plurality of container bodies have different affinity for elements for each container body. It is characterized by the following:

[0012] Solid particles enter the particle collision area at the bottom of the container at high speed, and the plasma-generated solid particles collide with the ionized material collection area. If the ionized material collection area is made of a material with low affinity to the mixture of the gasified gaseous material and the plasma-generated ionized material, the probability of the mixture adhering to the ionized material collection area decreases, and the probability of the mixture accumulating decreases. If the ionized material collection section is made of a material with high affinity for a mixture of solid microparticles, a gaseous substance, and a plasma-formed ionized substance, the probability of the mixture adhering to the ionized material collection section increases, and the probability of the mixture accumulating increases. This ensures reliable collection of ionized substances originating from solid microparticles in the ionized material collection section. (3) In the collection device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the ionized body collection unit is an ionized body collection unit that deposits ionized bodies generated from particles that collide with the particle collision unit at high speed. Ionized material resulting from high-speed collisions of particles is efficiently deposited in the ionized material collection section.

[0013] (4) In the ionized body collection device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the ionized body collection section has a predetermined width from the bottom wall side of the peripheral wall to the opening side and is an annular ionized body collection section formed on the inner circumference of the peripheral wall or an ionized body collection section formed on the bottom surface, and that a plurality of the ionized body collection sections are formed from the bottom wall side toward the opening side in the high-speed impact ionized body collection device.

[0014] When solid particles that enter the container body at high speed collide with the particle impactor at the bottom of the container body, the resulting mixture of gaseous and ionized substances collides with annular ionized substance collection sections located at different positions on the inner surface of the wall or with the ionized substance collection section at the bottom. Since the mixture of gaseous and ionized substances associated with the solid particles differs depending on the types of elements that make up the solid particles, it efficiently accumulates in one of the multiple ionized substance collection sections.

[0016] By preparing a separate container body for each ionized material collection section, the elements to be collected can be separated into their respective container bodies.

[0017] (5) In the collector device of the plasma according to the present invention (1) to (4) of Either In the collector device of the plasma described above, it is preferable that the plasma collection part is composed of one or more of resin, stainless steel, boron-doped silicon, titanium, gold, lithium, copper, hydrogen storage alloy, transition metal, metal oxide, and tungsten.

[0018] In the case of the resin layer, since it has an affinity for one or more of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, N, and O, it is possible to deposit the ionized substances derived from these atoms contained in the solid fine particles. In the case of the stainless steel layer, since it has an affinity for one or two of Cr and CrN, it is possible to deposit the ionized substances derived from these atoms contained in the solid fine particles. In the case of the boron-doped silicon layer, since it has an affinity for CrN, it is possible to deposit the ionized substances derived from CrN contained in the solid fine particles. In the case of the titanium layer, since it has an affinity for Ca, P, and O, it is possible to deposit the ionized substances derived from these atoms contained in the solid fine particles. In the case of the gold layer, since it has an affinity for Co, C, and N, it is possible to deposit the ionized substances derived from these atoms contained in the solid fine particles.

[0019] In the case of the lithium layer, since it has an affinity for Mg, Na, Si, and Al, it is possible to deposit the ionized substances derived from these atoms contained in the solid fine particles. In the case of the hydrogen storage alloy layer, since it has an affinity for H, it is possible to deposit the ionized substances derived from hydrogen atoms contained in the solid fine particles. Since the transition metal layer has an affinity for P, any one of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Cu is selected, and the ionized substances derived from P contained in the solid fine particles can be deposited. When a metal oxide layer of an element that does not overlap with the metal element to be collected is applied with Ti, Mn, and Fe as target elements, assuming Ti, Mn, and Fe as element M, collecting the compound of M - O, and using the isotope of oxygen, it is possible to distinguish from the oxygen to be collected. In the case of a tungsten layer, tungsten has an affinity for carbon, so ionized materials derived from carbon contained within solid nanoparticles can be deposited.

[0020] To identify elements originating from solid particles colliding with the material of the ionized body collection unit, isotopic elements can be used as the material of the ionized body collection unit. Differences in the ratio of isotopes allow for distinction between elements prepared on Earth and components collected in outer space.

[0021] (6) In the ionized substance collection device according to (1) of the present invention, it is preferable that the ionized substance collection section has a predetermined width from the bottom wall side of the peripheral wall to the opening side and is an annular ionized substance collection section formed on the inner circumference of the peripheral wall or an ionized substance collection section on the bottom surface, and that a plurality of the ionized substance collection sections are formed from the bottom wall side to the opening side, and that the ionized substance collection section is divided into a plurality of divided layers in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall, and that the plurality of divided layers each have affinity for different elements.

[0022] If the ionized material collection section is divided into multiple segmented layers, and each segmented layer has an affinity for a different element, then multiple segmented layers can be provided on the inner wall of the container body in the circumferential direction, allowing for the deposition of ionized material derived from multiple elements.

[0023] (7) According to the present invention (6) In the ionized body collection device described above, it is preferable that the ionized body collection section is made of one or more of the following materials: resin, stainless steel, boron-doped silicon, titanium, gold, lithium, copper, hydrogen storage alloy, transition metal, metal oxide, and tungsten.

[0024] (8) (1) ~ (7) In the ionizing body collection device described in any of the above, it is preferable that the particle collision section consists of a concave curved surface or an uneven surface.

[0025] The concave or uneven surface allows for the reliable release of a mixture of gaseous and ionized substances generated when solid particles collide with it, and ensures that the mixture of gaseous and ionized substances collides with multiple ionized substance collection sections provided on the inner surface of the peripheral and bottom walls. This ensures reliable collection of the mixture of gaseous and ionized substances originating from solid particles in the ionized substance collection sections.

[0026] (9) The ionized body collection device according to the present invention is characterized in that the ionized body collection section comprises at least two layers from among: a first layer made of a resin layer having affinity for one or more of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, N, and O; a second layer made of a stainless steel layer having affinity for one or more of Cr and CrN; a third layer made of a boron-doped silicon layer having affinity for CrN; a fourth layer made of a titanium layer having affinity for Ca, P, and O; a fifth layer made of a gold layer having affinity for Co, C, and N; a sixth layer made of a lithium layer having affinity for Mg, Na, Si, and Al; a seventh layer made of a hydrogen storage alloy having affinity for H; an eighth layer made of a transition metal layer having affinity for P; a ninth layer made of a metal oxide layer of an element that does not overlap with the target element, with Ti, Mn, and Fe as the target element; and a tenth layer having a tungsten layer having affinity for C. (10) The ionized body collection device according to the present invention comprises the ionized body collection unit, The container body is characterized by having one of the following layers, which differ for each container body: a first layer consisting of a resin layer having affinity for one or more of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, N, and O; a second layer consisting of a stainless steel layer having affinity for one or more of Cr and CrN; a third layer consisting of a boron-doped silicon layer having affinity for CrN; a fourth layer consisting of a titanium layer having affinity for Ca, P, and O; a fifth layer consisting of a gold layer having affinity for Co, C, and N; a sixth layer having affinity for Mg, Na, Si, and Al; a seventh layer consisting of a hydrogen storage alloy having affinity for H; an eighth layer consisting of a transition metal layer having affinity for P; a ninth layer consisting of a metal oxide layer of elements that do not overlap with the target element, with Ti, Mn, and Fe as the target element; and a tenth layer having a tungsten layer having affinity for C. (11) The method for collecting ionized materials according to the present invention is (1) ~ (10) The collection device described in any one of the above is mounted on a spacecraft, high-speed solid particles flying in from space are driven into the container body, a mixture of gaseous substance and ionized substance generated when the incoming solid particles collide is released by the particle collision section, the mixture of gaseous substance and ionized substance originating from the solid particles is driven into the ionized substance collection section, and the mixture of gaseous substance and ionized substance originating from the solid particles is deposited on the ionized substance collection section.

[0027] A mixture of gaseous and ionized substances originating from solid particulate matter, which enters the container body at high speed, is ejected by the particle impact section at the bottom of the container body and collides with the ionized substance collection section provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall. As a result, the mixture of gaseous and ionized substances originating from solid particulate matter can be deposited and collected in the ionized substance collection section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, when a spacecraft equipped with an ionized material collection device is moving through or in space, solid particles present in space fly towards the collection device and enter the container body at high speed through the opening of the container body. When solid particles collide with a particle impactor located at the bottom of the container, a mixture of gaseous material and plasma-enhanced ionized material is released from the particle impactor. This mixture of gaseous and ionized material originating from the solid particles then collides with at least one of the ionized material collection sections on the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the bottom surface. Outer space is a vacuum, and solid particles move at high speed. When they collide with the particle impactor, the mixture of ionized and gaseous material originating from the solid particles collides with the ionized material collection section. This allows the mixture of ionized and gaseous material originating from the solid particles to be deposited in the ionized material collection section, enabling the collection of material information from the solid particles. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0029] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a collection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A perspective view showing an example of how solid particles enter the collection device. [Figure 3] A perspective view of a collection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] A perspective view showing an example of how solid particles enter the collection device. [Figure 5] A perspective view of a collection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] A perspective view of a collection device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] "First Embodiment" The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an example of an ionized body collection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an ionized body collection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the same collection device. The collection device 1 of this embodiment consists of a tumbler-shaped container body 2 made of an aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, stainless steel alloy, CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) structure, or the like. The container body 2 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 2A and a bottom wall 2B that closes the opening on one side of the peripheral wall 2A. In the example shown in the figure, the container body 2 is tumbler-shaped, so the height of the peripheral wall 2A is formed to be several times the outer diameter of the bottom wall 2B, and an opening 2C is formed on the peripheral wall 2A of the container body 2 opposite to the bottom wall 2B. Note that the container body 2 being tumbler-shaped is just one example, so there are no particular restrictions on the ratio of the height of the peripheral wall 2A to the outer diameter of the bottom wall 2B. The container shape may be one in which the height of the peripheral wall 2A is greater than the shape shown in the figure, or one in which the height of the peripheral wall 2A is lower, or one in which the outer diameter of the bottom wall 2B is even larger. Furthermore, the peripheral wall 2A may be a rectangular tube or other shape, and the planar shape of the bottom wall 2B may not be circular, but a polygon or any other shape is acceptable. Furthermore, multiple tumbler-shaped container bodies may be arranged adjacent to each other, resulting in a configuration with multiple openings and bottom surfaces. The configuration of arranging multiple container bodies adjacent to each other will be described in a later embodiment.

[0031] On the bottom wall 2B of the container body 2, a particle impact section 2D is formed on the upper side, which is processed into a concave curved surface. In the examples in Figures 1 and 2, the particle impact section 2D is formed in a concave curved surface by hollowing out the upper part of the bottom wall in a hemispherical shape. On the inner surface of the peripheral wall 2A, multiple ring-shaped (annular) ionized material collection sections 3 are formed, extending from the upper part of the particle impact section 2 to the central part of the peripheral wall 2A in the height direction. In addition, the inner surface of the bottom wall 2B of the container body 2 also serves as an ionized material collection section 3. In this embodiment, ten ionized body collection sections 3 are formed along the height direction of the peripheral wall 2A, each having a constant width. The heights (widths) of the ionized body collection sections 3 along the height direction of the peripheral wall 2A do not all need to be the same; they may be different.

[0032] The first layer of the ionized material collection section 3 consists of a resin layer. The resin layer has an affinity for one or more of the following elements: Ti (titanium), V (vanadium), Cr (chromium), Mn (manganese), Fe (iron), Co (cobalt), N (nitrogen), and O (oxygen). Therefore, it can deposit ionized materials derived from these atoms contained in solid fine particles. The second layer of the ionized substance collection section 3 is made of stainless steel. Since the stainless steel layer has an affinity for one or two of Cr and CrN, it can deposit ionized substances derived from these atoms contained in solid fine particles. If the container body 2 is made of stainless steel, the inner circumferential surface of the container body 2 can be used as the second ionized substance collection section 3. The third layer of the ionized material collection section 3 consists of a boron-doped silicon layer (100). In the case of the boron-doped silicon layer, since it has an affinity for CrN, ionized material derived from CrN contained in solid fine particles can be deposited.

[0033] The fourth layer of the ionized material collection section 3 is made of titanium. Since the titanium layer has an affinity for Ca (calcium), P (phosphorus), and O, it can deposit ionized materials derived from these atoms contained in solid fine particles.

[0034] The fifth layer of the ionized material collection section 3 consists of a gold (Au) layer. Since the gold layer has an affinity for Co, C, and N, ionized materials originating from any of these atoms can be deposited. The sixth layer of the ionized material collection section 3 consists of a lithium (Li) layer. In the case of the lithium layer, it has an affinity for Mg (magnesium), Na (sodium), Si (silicon), and Al (aluminum), so ionized materials derived from these atoms contained in solid fine particles can be deposited. Of the ionized material collection section 3, the seventh layer consists of a hydrogen storage alloy layer. In the case of a hydrogen storage alloy, since it has an affinity for hydrogen (H), ionized material derived from hydrogen atoms can be deposited. Examples of hydrogen storage alloys include LaNi5 and TiMn. 1.5A hydrogen storage alloy containing any of ZrMn2, TiFe, V(Ti,Cr), Mg2Ni, or any of Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Ti, or V can be used.

[0035] The eighth layer of the ionized material collection section 3 consists of a transition metal layer. Since the transition metal layer has an affinity for P, one of the transition metals—Sc (scandium), Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, or Cu (copper)—can be selected to deposit ionized material originating from P. In the ionized material collection section 3, the ninth layer can be made of a metal oxide layer of an element that does not overlap with the target metal element, with Ti, Mn, and Fe as the target elements. Assuming Ti, Mn, and Fe are element M, MO compounds can be collected, and by using oxygen isotopes, they can be distinguished from the oxygen being collected. In the ionized material collection section 3, the tenth layer consists of a tungsten (W) layer. In the case of a tungsten layer, since tungsten has an affinity for carbon, ionized material originating from carbon contained in solid fine particles can be deposited. Note that the order in which the first to tenth layers are placed is not limited to the example above; any order can be chosen. Since the surface roughness of the ionized material collection section 3 differs depending on the type of ionized material, it is desirable to adjust the surface roughness as appropriate. By processing the surface roughness to an optimal value between mirror finish and Ra levels of several tens of microns, the collection efficiency can be increased.

[0036] Furthermore, each ionized body collection section 3 may employ a structure in which they are divided into multiple sections in the circumferential direction. In that case, Figure 1 shows the boundary sections when divided in the circumferential direction as linear partition lines a. In each ionized material collection section 3, a layer having affinity for the same substance may be formed in the circumferential direction as described above, or layers having affinity for different elements may be formed in each region divided by the partition line a. The specific structure in that case will be described in the third embodiment later.

[0037] The collection device 1 described above is intended for use mounted on artificial satellites in Earth orbit, or on spacecraft traveling towards other planets, moons, comets, asteroids, etc., or on spacecraft traveling in deep space. When mounted on a spacecraft, the collection device 1 is preferably mounted inside the spacecraft, concealed by a shutter device or the like, and the shutter device is opened in the target area of ​​space to open the opening 2C of the container body 2 to space, allowing solid particles to enter. The installation location of the collection device 1 is not particularly limited, and it may be mounted exposed on the outer wall or outside of the spacecraft. Alternatively, it may be mounted on the outer wall or outside of the spacecraft with a lid plate that closes the opening 2C of the container body 2, and the lid plate can be removed in the target area of ​​space to open the opening 2C of the container body 2 to space.

[0038] When a spacecraft equipped with the High-Speed ​​Impact Ionizer Collection Device 1 is moving through or present in the target space, solid particles present in space fly towards the collection device 1 at high speed and enter the container body 2 as high-speed solid particles A through the opening 2C of the container body 2. When high-speed solid particles A collide with the particle impact section 2D located at the bottom of the container body 2, as shown in Figure 2, a mixture B of the solid particles, which is a gaseous substance and a plasma-enhanced ionized substance, is released from the particle impact section 2D and collides with one of the 10 ionized substance collection sections 3 on the inner surface of the peripheral wall.

[0039] Outer space is a vacuum, and solid particles travel at high speed. When they collide with the particle collision section 2D, they are released as a mixture B of gaseous and ionized material originating from the solid particles, which then collides with the ionized material collection section 3. This allows the mixture of gaseous and ionized material from the solid particles A to be deposited in one of the 10 ionized material collection sections 3, thereby capturing material information originating from the solid particles. Because the particle impact section 2D has a concave curved surface with a hemispherical cutout at the top of its bottom wall, the mixture of gaseous and ionized substances originating from solid fine particles that collide at a position offset from the center of the particle impact section 2D is emitted with a reflection angle for each collision position and collides with the inner surface and bottom surface of the peripheral wall 2A.

[0040] For example, if a spacecraft is orbiting in low Earth orbit and the orbital velocity of solid particles such as microspace debris is 8 km / s, if solid particles such as cosmic dust originating from comets have a maximum encounter velocity with the spacecraft of 70 km / s, or if solid particles are traveling at extremely high speeds of 15 km / s or more in deep space exploration, in any of these cases, a mixture of gaseous material and ionized material originating from solid particles can be deposited in any of the ionized material collection units 3, and material information originating from solid particles can be collected. When the aforementioned solid particles collide with the particle collision section 2D at ultra-high speeds such as 8 km / s, 70 km / s, or extremely high speeds of 15 km / s or more, they generate shock waves. Although solid, they behave like fluids and undergo transformations such as fracture, sublimation, and ionization, resulting in the deposition of a mixture of gaseous and ionized substances originating from these solid particles on the ionized substance collection section 3 or the bottom surface of the container body 2.

[0041] Furthermore, the phenomenon in which these solid particles collide with the ionized body collection unit 3 in outer space while gasifying or becoming plasma at the aforementioned velocities is equivalent to the vacuum conditions required for coating a substrate in a vacuum container on Earth using CVD (chemical vapor deposition) or PVD (physical vapor deposition). For example, at an altitude of 400 km above the Earth's surface where the International Space Station orbits, 10 -4 ~10 -5 Approximately Pa, 10 in geostationary orbit. -8 Around Pa, 10 in interstellar space -11 It is said that the vacuum level is Pa. In contrast, when the deposition chamber is evacuated using the vacuum pump of the deposition apparatus, 10 -3 It is common practice to adjust the vacuum to a level below Pa. Furthermore, plasma is generated at the aforementioned vacuum level to deposit films on the substrate. Therefore, deposits can be obtained on or at the bottom surface of the ionized material collection section 3, similar to the phenomenon of film deposition on a substrate by CVD or PVD.

[0042] Furthermore, in CVD and PVD, the deposition efficiency of the deposition material on the substrate varies depending on the affinity between the substrate material used for various film deposition processes and the constituent materials of the film to be deposited. Similarly, in the ionized material collection section 3 used in this application, it can be said that deposits originating from ionized materials of atoms with high affinity for each layer tend to accumulate in the first to tenth ionized material collection sections 3 described above.

[0043] By returning the aforementioned spacecraft to Earth and recovering collection device 1, it will be possible to achieve sample return of material information from solid particles colliding at extremely high speeds, such as ultra-high speeds, which was previously considered difficult with conventional methods. Of course, sample return of material information from solid particles colliding at ultra-high speeds will also be possible. If deposits are present in the first ionized material collection section 3 of the recovered collection device 1, it can be estimated that the deposits mainly consist of ionized materials originating from one of the following elements: Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, N, or O. Therefore, it can be estimated that solid particles containing one of the following elements were present in the space through which the aforementioned spacecraft passed.

[0044] If sediment is present in the second ionized body collection section 3, it can be inferred that solid fine particles containing either Cr or CrN were present. If sediment is present in the third ionized body collection section 3, it can be inferred that solid fine particles containing CrN were present. If sediment is present in the fourth ionized body collection section 3, it can be presumed that solid fine particles containing Ca, P, or O were present.

[0045] If sediment is present in the fifth ionized body collection section 3, it can be presumed that solid particles containing either Co, C, or N were present. If sediment is present in the sixth ionized body collection section 3, it can be presumed that solid fine particles containing one of the following elements were present: Mg, Na, Si, Al, O, or S. If sediment is present in the seventh ionized body collection section 3, it can be inferred that solid particles containing H were present.

[0046] If sediment is present in the eighth ionized body collection section 3, it can be inferred that solid particles containing P were present. If sediment is present in the ninth ionized body collection section 3, it can be estimated that solid fine particles containing either Ti, Mn, or Fe were present. If sediment is present in the 10th ionized body collection section 3, it can be presumed that solid particles containing C were present.

[0047] Therefore, by analyzing and understanding the deposits in each ionized body collection section 3, it is possible to estimate the presence of elements contained in solid particles present in space when the spacecraft is orbiting the Earth, or in solid particles present in deep space when the spacecraft is heading out to explore comets, asteroids, planets, or moons. In the collection device 1 of this embodiment, if another element is to be the target of collection, it is preferable to provide an additional number of ionized body collection units 3, and to provide ionized body collection units 3 made of a material with high affinity to the target element. For example, if sulfur (S) is the target element to be collected, a layer made of materials such as copper (Cu) or lithium (Li) can be used.

[0048] Furthermore, since cosmic dust is expected to contain information about the origin and evolution of the solar system, Earth, seawater, and the raw materials for life, using the collection device 1 of the present invention mounted on a spacecraft can contribute to the development of new scientific knowledge. In addition, the material deposited in the ionized body collection section 3 may be other materials such as those originating from the solar wind, in addition to cosmic dust. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to outer space but also to locations on Earth, such as near nuclear reactors and volcanoes, where it is difficult for humans to directly visit and observe, simply by ionizing solid nanoparticles. This could be a new aid in understanding the constituent elements of solid nanoparticles in unknown environments.

[0049] "Second Embodiment" Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a collection device for high-speed impacting ionized bodies according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the same collection device. The collection device 10 of this embodiment consists of a tumbler-shaped container body 12 made of aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, stainless steel alloy, CFRP structure, etc. The container body 12 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 12A and a bottom wall 12B that closes the opening on one side of the peripheral wall 12A. On the bottom wall 12B of the container body 12, a particle impact section 12D is formed on the upper side, consisting of an uneven surface with multiple quadrangular pyramidal protrusions 13. Each protrusion 13 has four inclined surfaces 13a.

[0050] In the examples in Figures 3 and 4, the bottom wall 12B is formed in a flat shape, and multiple quadrangular pyramidal protrusions 13 are formed on the upper surface of this bottom wall 12B, aligned vertically and horizontally. In the examples in Figures 3 and 4, the protrusions 13 are formed vertically and horizontally in several rows to more than ten rows, and in several columns to more than ten columns on the upper surface of the bottom wall 12B. In the examples in Figures 3 and 4, the height of the protrusions 13 is formed to be about 1 / 10 of the height of the peripheral wall 12A of the container body 12. The height and width of the protrusion 13 are not limited to the illustrated example, and any height and width can be selected. However, the shape of the protrusion 13 is not particularly limited, as long as the protrusion 13 has an inclined surface 13a that allows a mixture of gaseous material and ionized material originating from solid particles, released by the collision of solid particles as described later, to collide with the inner surface of the peripheral wall 12A.

[0051] On the inner surface of the peripheral wall 12A, multiple ring-shaped (annular) ionized body collection sections 3 are formed around the inner surface of the peripheral wall 12A, extending from the upper part of the particle impact section 12D to the central part in the height direction of the peripheral wall 12A. The ionized body collection sections 3 provided in this embodiment are equivalent to the ionized body collection sections 3 provided in the first embodiment.

[0052] The collection device 10 described above is intended for use mounted on artificial satellites in Earth orbit, or on spacecraft traveling towards other planets, moons, comets, asteroids, etc., or on spacecraft traveling in deep space. Its purpose and method of use are the same as those of the collection device 1 of the first embodiment. In the collection device 10, solid particles A enter through the opening 12C of the container body 12, and when the solid particles A collide with the particle impact section 12D, as shown in Figure 4, a mixture B of gaseous substance and ionized substance originating from the solid particles is released from the particle impact section 12D and collides with the ionized substance collection section 3 on the inner surface of the peripheral wall. Outer space is a vacuum, and when solid particles A move at high speed and collide with the particle collision section 12D, a mixture B of gaseous and ionized material originating from the solid particles is released and collides with the ionized material collection section 3. As a result, the mixture B of gaseous and ionized material originating from the solid particles can be deposited in the ionized material collection section 3, and information about the material originating from the solid particles can be collected. Since the first to tenth ionized material collection units 3 are all made of the aforementioned materials, by understanding the deposits accumulated in each collection unit 3, it is possible to estimate the abundance and composition of solid particles by analyzing the mixture of gaseous and ionized materials originating from solid particles present in the space space through which the spacecraft has passed. Furthermore, the collection device 10 of the second embodiment also provides the same effects and advantages as the collection device 1 of the first embodiment.

[0053] "Third Embodiment" Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a high-speed impact ionization collection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the collection device 20 in this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment in that it is composed of a metal tumbler-shaped container body 22. The container body 22 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 22A and a bottom wall 22B that closes the opening on one side of the peripheral wall 22A. The shape of the particle impact section 22D formed on the bottom wall 22B of the container body 22 is the same as that of the particle impact section 22D in the first embodiment.

[0054] The difference between the collection device 20 of the third embodiment and the collection device 1 of the first embodiment lies in the configuration of the ionized body collection section 23. On the inner surface of the peripheral wall 22A, a ring-shaped (annular) ionized body collection section 23 is formed, extending from the upper part of the particle impact section 22D to the central part of the peripheral wall 22A in the height direction. In this embodiment, five ionized body collection sections 23 are formed along the height direction of the peripheral wall 22A, each with a constant width. Furthermore, each ionized body collection section 23 is divided into four adjacent divided layers 23a, 23b, 23a, and 23b in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 22A. A dividing line a is drawn at the boundary between the divided layers 23a, 23b, 23a, and 23b in the drawing for easier recognition.

[0055] In the configuration of the third embodiment, among the multiple ionized body collection sections 23, in the first ionized body collection section 23 located closest to the bottom wall 23B, of the divided layers 23a, 23b, 23a, 23b, divided layers 23a, 23a are made of the resin layer used in the first ionized body collection section 3 of the first embodiment, and divided layer 23b is made of the stainless steel layer used in the second ionized body collection section 3 of the first embodiment. In the second ionized body collection section 23, the divided layers 23a, 23a consist of the boron-doped silicon layer used in the third ionized body collection section 3 of the first embodiment, and the divided layers 23b, 23b consist of the titanium layer used in the fourth ionized body collection section 3 of the first embodiment.

[0056] In the third ionized substance collection section 23, the divided layers 23a, 23a consist of the gold layer used in the fifth ionized substance collection section 3 of the first embodiment, and the divided layers 23b, 23b consist of the lithium layer used in the sixth ionized substance collection section 3 of the first embodiment. In the fourth ionized body collection section 23, the divided layers 23a, 23a consist of the hydrogen storage alloy layer used in the seventh ionized body collection section 3 of the first embodiment, and the divided layers 23b, 23b consist of the transition metal layer used in the eighth ionized body collection section 3 of the first embodiment. In the fifth ionized body collection section 23, the divided layers 23a, 23a consist of the metal oxide layer used in the ninth ionized body collection section 3 of the first embodiment, and the divided layers 23b, 23b consist of the tungsten layer used in the tenth ionized body collection section 3 of the first embodiment.

[0057] According to the structure of the third embodiment, ionized materials of atoms such as Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, N, and O can be secured in the divided layer 23a of the first ionized material collection section 23, and ionized materials of atoms such as Cr and CrN can be secured in the divided layer 23b. Furthermore, atom-derived ionizing materials such as CrN deposited in the divided layer 23a of the second ionizing material collection section 23 can be secured, and atom-derived ionizing materials such as Ca, P, and O can be secured in the divided layer 23b.

[0058] Furthermore, ionized materials of atomic origin such as Co, C, and N deposited in the divided layer 23a of the third ionized material collection section 23 can be secured, and ionized materials of atomic origin such as Mg, Na, Si, and Al deposited in the divided layer 23b can be secured. Furthermore, ionized material derived from H atoms deposited in the divided layer 23a of the fourth ionized material collection section 23 can be secured, and ionized material derived from P atoms deposited in the divided layer 23b can be secured. Furthermore, ionized material originating from any of the Ti, Mn, or Fe atoms deposited in the divided layer 23a of the fifth ionized material collection section 23 can be secured, and ionized material originating from the C atom deposited in the divided layer 23b can be secured.

[0059] According to the structure of the third embodiment, even with the first to fifth vertically arranged ionized material collection sections 23, by providing different layers for collecting ionized materials in each of the circumferentially divided divided layers of the peripheral wall 22A, it is possible to use 10 different layers to collect the same number of atom-derived ionized materials as the 10 ionized material collection sections 3 of the first embodiment.

[0060] As described above, the ionized material collection section 23 can be divided into multiple circumferential layers, and by using layers that have affinity for different atoms for each layer, it is possible to collect ionized material corresponding to the same number of elements as in the first embodiment, even if the number of ionized material collection sections 23 provided in the vertical direction of the container body 22 is less than that of the first embodiment.

[0061] In this invention, the number of ionized material collection sections and the number of divided layers in the container body can be appropriately adjusted to correspond to the number of ionized materials to be collected. For example, if the container body 22 is provided with six rows of ionized material collection sections 23 in the vertical direction and three divided layers in the circumferential direction, and layers with high affinity for different elements are placed in each divided layer, then layers with high affinity for 18 different elemental patterns can be used. Of course, even more divided layers can be provided, and sediment can be collected in layers corresponding to even more types of elements.

[0062] Furthermore, since the length and outer diameter of the container body used in this invention can be adjusted to any size, it is possible to select the number of ionized material collection sections and divided layers according to the number of elements to be collected. In the above embodiment, a layered structure formed on the inner surface of the container body was used as the ionized material collection section. However, the ionized material collection section for depositing ionized solid particles is not limited to a layered structure; it may also consist of a metal or resin ring placed on the inner wall of the container body.

[0063] For example, the ionized body collection section may be constructed by arranging multiple rows of rings made of the materials that constitute the first to tenth layered ionized body collection sections described above, vertically along the inner circumference of the container body. When the ionized body collection section is made of rings made of the various materials described above, after the container bodies 2, 12, and 22 are recovered to Earth, each ring can be removed from the container bodies 2, 12, and 22, which has advantages such as allowing for analysis of the sediment in each ring.

[0064] Furthermore, in the case of the ionized material collection sections 3 and 23 formed on the container bodies 2, 12, and 22 according to the present invention, if the materials constituting the container bodies 2, 12, and 22 have affinity for the target element, the inner circumferential surfaces of the container bodies 2, 12, and 22 can be used as the ionized material collection sections 3 and 23. For example, in the above embodiment, if a stainless steel layer is used as the second collection section 3, and the container body 2 is made of stainless steel, the inner circumferential surface of the container body 2 can be used as the second ionized substance collection section 3. Also, if the container body 2 is made of titanium, the inner circumferential surface of the container body 2 can be used as the fourth ionized substance collection section 3.

[0065] "Fourth Embodiment" Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a collection device for high-speed impacting ionized bodies according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The collection device 30 of this embodiment is composed of multiple metal tumbler-shaped container bodies 31. As an example, in the configuration shown in Figure 6, 14 container bodies 31 are arranged adjacent to each other with their openings facing the same side. Each container body 31 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 32A and a bottom wall 32B that closes the opening on one side of the peripheral wall 32A. The shape of the particle impact section 32D formed on the bottom wall 32B of the container body 31 is equivalent to the particle impact section 22D of the first embodiment.

[0066] In this embodiment, each container body 31 is provided with only one ionized substance collection section 33 on the inner surface of its peripheral wall. Each container body 31 is provided with an ionized substance collection section 33 consisting of only one type of layer from among the layers that make up any of the first to tenth layers of the first embodiment described above. Of the 14 container bodies 31, one or more layers that make up any of the first to tenth layers can be appropriately selected and used. The number of container bodies 31 can be arbitrarily selected, for example, by providing multiple container bodies 31 equipped with layers corresponding to important elements among the elements to be collected, and reducing or omitting the number of container bodies 31 equipped with layers corresponding to less important elements.

[0067] Therefore, for example, in the configuration shown in Figure 6, if each of the 14 container bodies 31 is provided with a particle collision section 33 having an affinity for different atoms, then 14 different types of ionized substances can be individually collected by the 14 container bodies 31. Of course, there is no limit to the number of container bodies 31 that can be assembled, nor is there any particular limit to the number of container bodies 31 that can be assembled. Depending on the number of elements to be measured, fewer container bodies 31 than those shown in Figure 6 may be assembled, or more container bodies 31 than those shown in Figure 6 may be assembled.

[0068] These multiple container bodies 31 are used by mounting them on artificial satellites, spacecraft, etc., as in the first to third embodiments described above. The purpose and method of use are the same as those of the collection devices 1, 10, and 20 in the first to third embodiments. In the collection device 30 of the sixth embodiment, solid fine particles enter through the opening 32C of the container body 31, and when the solid fine particles collide with the particle collision section 32D, a mixture of gaseous substance and ionized substance originating from the solid fine particles collides with the ionized substance collection section 33 on the inner surface of the peripheral wall, thereby collecting the ionized substance. In the sixth embodiment of the collection device 30, by preparing a separate container body 31 for each ionized material collection section 33, the elements to be collected can be separated into their respective container bodies 31. Since the layers constituting the ionized material collection section 33 in each container 31 are known in advance, when analyzing the ionized material deposited in the ionized material collection section 33, an analysis method specialized for a specific element can be adopted, making the analysis easier.

[0069] Incidentally, in the present invention, when controlling the location of the plasma generated inside the container body and mixing the constituent components of the plasma-generated solid fine particles and / or the material of the ionized body collection section at a high concentration, it is preferable to add a device that fixes the location of the plasma using a magnetic field from a strong magnet by using the magnetron sputtering method. This allows for the concentrated collection of ionized material at specific locations within the container body.

[0070] Furthermore, in the case of target celestial bodies with thin atmospheres, such as comet nuclei and icy satellites with internal oceans, trace amounts of gaseous components are expected to be present in space, as well as gaseous components generated from impacting solid particles. Therefore, materials for the ionized material collection section that can react and deposit gaseous substances present in a vacuum with the constituent materials of plasma-generated solid particles, as exemplified by reactive sputtering, are desirable. In this process, the resulting material can be controlled by controlling the temperature, which is one of the factors that control the thermodynamic equilibrium conditions of the materials that react and deposit. To incorporate this function into the apparatus, it is desirable to add a temperature control device with a heater or Peltier element that can control the wall temperature from several hundred degrees Celsius to several tens of degrees below zero.

[0071] Furthermore, in order to identify elements originating from solid particles colliding with the material of the ionized body collection unit, isotopic elements can be used as the material of the ionized body collection unit. This makes it possible to distinguish between elements prepared on Earth and components collected in outer space based on differences in isotopic ratios. [Industrial applicability]

[0072] The ionized body collection device according to the present invention can be mounted on a spacecraft and used to detect solid particles present in outer space by moving through space. Since solid particles present in outer space are expected to contain information about the origin and evolution of the solar system, Earth, seawater, and the raw materials for life, the collection device 1 of the present invention can contribute to the development of new scientific knowledge. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0073] 1...Collection device, 2...Container body, 2A...Peripheral wall, 2B...Bottom wall, 2C...Opening, 2D...Particle collision part, 3...Ionizer collection part, 10...Collection device, 12...Container body, 12A...Peripheral wall, 12B...Bottom wall, 12C...Opening, 12D...Particle collision part, 13...Protrusion, 20 ...Collection device, 22...Container body, 22A...Peripheral wall, 22B...Bottom wall, 22C...Opening, 22D...Particle collision section, 23...Ionization body collection section, 23a, 23b...Division layer, 30...Collection device, 31...Container body, 33...Ionization body collection section, A...Solid fine particles, B...Ionization body.

Claims

1. A single or more container bodies having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, with an opening at the upper part of the peripheral wall, The container body comprises a particle impact section formed at the bottom and an ionized material collection section formed on at least one of the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the bottom surface of the container body. An ionized body collection device characterized in that a plurality of ionized body collection units are formed on at least one of the inner surface and bottom surface of the peripheral wall, and each of the plurality of ionized body collection units formed on at least one of the inner surface and bottom surface of the peripheral wall is an ionized body collection unit having an affinity for different elements.

2. A plurality of container bodies having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall, and having an opening at the upper part of the peripheral wall, The container body comprises a particle impact section formed at the bottom and an ionized material collection section formed on at least one of the inner surface of the peripheral wall and the bottom surface of the container body. An ionized body collection device characterized in that the ionized body collection sections formed in the plurality of container bodies are ionized body collection sections having different affinity for elements for each of the container bodies.

3. The ionized body collection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ionized body collection unit is an ionized body collection unit that deposits ionized bodies generated from particles that collide with the particle collision unit at high speed.

4. The ionized body collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ionized body collection section has a predetermined width from the bottom wall side of the peripheral wall to the opening side and is an annular ionized body collection section formed on the inner circumference of the peripheral wall or an ionized body collection section formed on the bottom surface, and a plurality of the ionized body collection sections are formed from the bottom surface side toward the opening side.

5. The ionized body collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ionized body collection unit consists of one or more materials selected from resin, stainless steel, boron-doped silicon, titanium, gold, lithium, copper, hydrogen storage alloy, transition metal, metal oxide, and tungsten.

6. The ionized body collection section has a predetermined width from the bottom wall side of the peripheral wall to the opening side, and is an annular ionized body collection section formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall or an ionized body collection section on the bottom surface, and a plurality of the ionized body collection sections are formed from the bottom wall side toward the opening side, The ionized material collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ionized material collection section is divided into a plurality of divided layers in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall, and the plurality of divided layers each have an affinity for different elements.

7. The ionized body collection device according to claim 6, wherein the ionized body collection unit is made of one or more of the following: resin, stainless steel, boron-doped silicon, titanium, gold, lithium, copper, hydrogen storage alloy, transition metal, metal oxide, and tungsten.

8. The ionizing body collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the particle collision portion is a concave curved surface or an uneven surface.

9. The ionized material collection unit, A first layer consisting of a resin layer having affinity for one or more of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, N, and O, A second layer consisting of a stainless steel layer having affinity for one or two of Cr and CrN, A third layer consisting of a boron-doped silicon layer that is compatible with CrN, A fourth layer consisting of a titanium layer having affinity for Ca, P, and O, The fifth layer consists of a gold layer that has affinity for Co, C, and N, The sixth layer consists of a lithium layer that is compatible with Mg, Na, Si, and Al, The seventh layer is made of a hydrogen storage alloy that has neonativity with H, The eighth layer consists of a transition metal layer that is compatible with P, The ninth layer consists of metal oxide layers of elements that do not overlap with the target elements, with Ti, Mn, and Fe as the target elements. Among the tenth layers having a tungsten layer that has affinity for C, The ionizing agent collection device according to claim 1, characterized by having at least two or more layers.

10. The ionized material collection unit, A first layer consisting of a resin layer having affinity for one or more of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, N, and O, A second layer consisting of a stainless steel layer having affinity for one or two of Cr and CrN, A third layer consisting of a boron-doped silicon layer that is compatible with CrN, A fourth layer consisting of a titanium layer having affinity for Ca, P, and O, The fifth layer consists of a gold layer that has affinity for Co, C, and N, A sixth layer that exhibits new affinity for Mg, Na, Si, and Al, The seventh layer is made of a hydrogen storage alloy that has neonativity with H, The eighth layer consists of a transition metal layer that is compatible with P, The ninth layer consists of metal oxide layers of elements that do not overlap with the target elements, with Ti, Mn, and Fe as the target elements. Among the tenth layers having a tungsten layer that has affinity for C, The ionized body collection device according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the container bodies has a different layer.

11. A method for collecting ionized materials, comprising mounting an ionized material collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 on a spacecraft, allowing high-speed solid particles flying from outer space to enter the container body, causing the entered solid particles to collide with the particle collision section, thereby causing a mixture of gaseous material and ionized material originating from the solid particles to collide with the ionized material collection section, and depositing the mixture of gaseous material and ionized material originating from the solid particles onto the ionized material collection section.

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