BPS Space Physical Sciences PIs Dr. Robert Hyers and Dr. Doug Matson are published in online Nature journal npj Microgravity, published May 2, 2023. (S)
Space Physical Sciences principal investigators Dr. Robert Hyers/Worchester Polytechnic Institute and Dr. Doug Matson/Tufts published an article titled “Electromagnetic levitation containerless processing of metallic materials in microgravity: thermophysical properties” in the Nature journal npj Microgravity (volume 9, Article number: 34 (2023)) with co-authors from Germany’s DLR and Switzerland’s EMPA.
This paper presents a thorough overview of the containerless levitation of metals by electromagnetic levitation (EML). It reviews fundamental underpinnings, presents the diversity of results provided by EML, and collects several recent achievements in the field. The paper features results from the Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS)-supported projects THERMOPROP/THERMOLAB, ELFSTONE/LODESTARS and USTIP. The authors expand on the importance of EML experiments to understand the fundamental science behind modern metals processing, which may be especially relevant in light of the new decadal survey.
