Host: The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences: Local Organizing Committee for 2006 Fall Meeting
Silica aerogel has been used as a suitable capture medium for solid microparticles with hypervelocity. The authors have been conducting experiments for evaluation of thermal alteration of particles captured by silica aerogel and energy partition. In this study, formation of penetration tracks in aerogel was observed and recorded by a high-speed camera. Excavation process of a single track, so-called a "carrot track" made by a 500 micron-Al2O3 grain was observed. At first a thin track grew in the direction of penetration and then it started to swell into a "carrot". Assuming that brighter part represents higher temperature/pressure area, shock wave dissipation in aerogel can be recognized. Combining this and our previous results, this study aims at finding empirical facts constraining energy partition.
