Single, levitated aerosol particles

        The ALCATRAS experiment

            Atmospherically relevant laser light-scattering of a trapped aerosol 

Aerosol_Fig2

Scientific background

Why do we perform experiments on single, levitated particles in a laboratory experiment when we want to learn something about the role of aerosol particles in the atmosphere? What is the advantage of having the particles levitated rather than placing small particles on a substrate or doing experiments with bulk samples? Some answers are here   

Experimental Setup

A schematic of the experimental system is shown in the figure above. To suspend a micron sized charged particle in air within a small region an electrodynamic balance is used. More details are provided here

Published results of the ALCATRAS experiment

Photochemical degradation of iron(III) citrate/citric acid aerosol quantified with the combination of three complementary experimental techniques and a kinetic process model
Dou, J., Alpert, P.A., Corral Arroyo, P., Luo, B.P., Schneider, F., Xto, J., Huthwelker, T., Borca, C.N., Henzler, K.D., Raabe, J., Watts, B., Herrmann, H., Peter, T., Ammann, M., and Krieger, U.K.
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 315-​338, 2021 external page https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-​21-315-2021           more

Current team   

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