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The search for interstellar particle (ISP) impacts on
Stardust aluminium foils
Kearsley A. T., Allen C., Armes S. P., Bajt S., Ball
A., Bastien R., Bechtel H., Borg J., Brenker F., Bridges J., Brownlee
D. E., Burchell M. J., Burghammer M., Butterworth A. L., Chater R. J.,
Cloetens P., Cody G., Davis A. M., Ferroir T., Floss C., Flynn G. J.,
Frank D., Gainsforth Z., Grün E., Heck P. R., Hiller J., Hoppe P.,
Hörz
F., Howard L., Hudson B., Huss G., Huth J., Kearsley A. T., Lai B.,
Landgraf M., Leitner J., Lemelle L., Leroux H., Nittler L. R., Ogliore
R., Postberg F., Price M. C., Sandford S. A., Schmitz S., Silversmit
G., Simionovici A., Srama R., Stadermann F. J., Stephan T., Stroud R.
M., Sutton S., Toucoulou R., Trieloff M., Trigo-Rodriguez J., Tsou P.,
Tsuchiyama A., Tyliczszak T., Vekemans B., Vincze L., Warren J.,
Westphal A. J., and Zolensky M. E. (2010)
Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 45, A102.
ABSTRACT
A dedicated collector on Stardust was deployed to collect ISP
for 195 days. The suggested number, size, trajectory and velocity on
capture were predicted. Although aerogel tracks consistent with ISP
origin have been found and some have already been analysed, searches of
Al foils for ISP craters were delayed for technical reasons of safe
extraction, handling and contamination control [6]. Foil strips are now
mounted on robust holders suitable for a variety of analytical
instruments. Imaging protocols and contamination limits permitting
subsequent successful Auger analysis have been evaluated. Six
laboratories have validated clean instruments so far, and searches for
ISP impact craters have begun.
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