Electrode and mirror assembly

1. MRI-R2 Consortium: Development of Electrostatic Levitation Facility for Neutron Scattering Studies of Liquids to be used in Fundamental Research and Education Kenneth F. Kelton, Washington University, DMR 0959465 Liquids and glasses are probably the least understood phases of matter. How the liquid structure evolves, how it is linked to dynamical processes, how it influences phase transitions, and how it is involved in the formation of glasses are all unanswered questions. Studies to try to address them are limited, since in most cases they must be made at high temperatures where the liquids are strongly reactive with their surrounding environment. The goal of this project is to construct an electrostatic levitation facility (NESL) that will be used at the Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN. This will allow structural and dynamical studies to be made by processing the samples in a containerless environment under high vacuum. The NESL is scheduled to be delivered to the SNS for installation and testing in January, 2013. Electrode and mirror assembly Top figure– An illustration of the electrode and mirror assembly, showing the optical paths of the lasers used in NESL. The geometry of most of the beam-lines at the SNS require that mirrors be used to route heating and pyrometry optics (red lines) and positioning lasers (blue lines). A levitated sample is located between the electrodes. Bottom figure – A photograph showing an actual levitated Cu-Zr liquid sphere in NESL at a temperature well in excess of its melting temperature. The levitated sample is stable to better than  50 m. Levitated sphere of liquid Cu50Zr50

2. MRI-R2 Consortium: Development of Electrostatic Levitation Facility for Neutron Scattering Studies of Liquids to be used in Fundamental Research and Education Kenneth F. Kelton, Washington University, DMR 0959465 Broader Impacts Graduate and Post-Graduate Education – The NESL will be a unique instrument that will allow fundamental studies that have not previously been possible. Graduates and post-graduates will be able to make path-breaking investigations. Shown here are post-doctoral scientist Nick Mauro (left) working with graduate student Adam Vogt (right) to control the levitation and melting of a Cu-Zr sample. Outreach – Kelton regularly gives popular lectures on his research, including one to the Missouri Scholars Academy this year. He and his students also participate in outreach activities sponsored by Washington University. Broader Scientific Relevance– NESL will enable novel studies on many high temperature liquids Metallic glasses are one of the most intensely studied modern materials, with many new applications appearing. The information gained by BESL will help to develop a deeper understanding of glass formation and properties.