Electrostatic Levitator picture gallery

March 9, 1998: The following pictures are provided for print media needing high-resolution images of the Electrostatic Levitator. Technical specifications are listed below. Please credit the illustrations as noted. For additional information, contact Dr. Jan Rogers at 205-544-1081.

[Return to the main ESL story.] [Check the color calibration for the scanner used on these pictures.]

Dr. Jan Rogers operates the ESL. 1179x781, 336K JPG. (NASA)	Larry Savage, Dr. Jan Rogers, Dr. Michael Robinson (all NASA) and Doug Huie (Mevatec) inspect the ESL. 1169x791, 360K JPG. (NASA)	Dr. Jan Rogers and Dr. Michael Robinson at the ESL controls. 1303x775 pixel, 334K JPG. NASA.	Closeup view of ESL vacuum chamber. 1207x1035, 472K JPG. (NASA)
ESL in operation at Loral before transfer to NASA. 540-x622, 240K JPG. (Loral)	ESL general layout at Loral. 693x528, 264K JPG. (Loral)	ESL general layout with captions. 693x491, 264K JPG. (Loral)	ESL vacuum chamber with top raised to show interior. 691x544, 232K JPG. (Loral)
Electrostatic levitation system inside ESL vacuum chamber. 518x537, 104K JPG (Loral)	Metal droplet levitated inside ESL. 690x539, 272K JPG. (Loral)	Schematic of ESL electrodes and controls. 728x353, 88K JPG. Illustrator original available. (NASA)	Graph depicting ESL heating and cooling cycle to achieve undercooling of liquid metals. 724x757, 136K JPG. (NASA). Illustrator original available.
General layout of ESL. The heating laser is now mounted under the table, but is shown rotated 90 deg. for clarity. 713x1393, 176K JPG. (NASA) Illustrator original available.

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Electrostatic Levitator technical specifications

Vacuum

Forepump	Turbomolecular
Backing pump	Diaphraghm
Operating pressure	10 E-8 torr
Pumping speed	250 l/s (nitrogen)
Flange desgn	Conflat
Measurement	Ion guage with reader

Pyrometry

Type	Single color
Wavelength	0.656 or 1.3 µm
Detector	Cooled/stabilized Si or InGaAs
Amplifier gain	10E5 to 10E9 V/A
Output	Analog

Levitation

Type	Electrostatic w/3D digital PD feedback control
Specimen size	1-3 mm
Composition	Conductor, semi-conductor, or insulator

Heating

Method	Focused, steerable laser
Laser type	CW: Nd:YAG at 1.064 µm
Beam power	50W max., 1-100%
Spot size	0.5-1.0 mm

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