Regensburg 2025 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

MM: Fachverband Metall- und Materialphysik

MM 9: Poster

MM 9.5: Poster

Monday, March 17, 2025, 18:30–20:30, P1

Impact of hyperthermal oxygen on alumina surfaces investigated by molecular dynamics simulations — •Stephen Hocker, Hansjörg Lipp, and Johannes Roth — Institut für Funktionelle Materie und Quantentechnologien, Universität Stuttgart

Oxygen atoms impinging on satellite surfaces in very low earth orbit (VLEO) transfer momentum and energy leading to material degradation as well as drag forces which result in orbital decay of the satellite. The first step in finding solutions to counteract significant drag is to gain understanding of the interaction of atomic oxygen (AO) with material surfaces. We investigate the adsorption rate and the angular distribution of reflected AO on crystalline and amorphous alumina surfaces using molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that the angular distribution depends strongly on the surface structure and the incidence angle. A higher ratio of specular reflection is found in case of smooth surfaces and large incidence angles.

Keywords: oxygen; surface; alumina; molecular dynamics