At MSFC we will purchase, install and calibrate the artificial sun light sources, as well as the spectrometer used for inverting the Mie scattering profiles. If the design of the force balance permits, we also insert a magnetic field pole pieces to test the magnetization of dust grains and its effect on radiative transfer. Our intent is to verify and calibrate the system using latex or alumina spheres that have well known scattering cross-sections. The properties of the tuneable laser and the tungsten light source will be used to cross-calibrate and remove systematic errors from calculations. The data acquisition system will be used to automate the process so that Mie scattering profiles can be quickly and easily inverted from the data. This proof-of-concept testing will be completed in this first year .
From theoretical considerations and the results of our calibrations, we will purchase several candidate dust samples, including latex/styrene/Au spheres, magnetic dust, and chelated buckyballs. If necessary, (and suppliers cannot be found to provide the chelation) we can pursue the wet chemistry to create our own chelated dust samples.