Exploring 3D nano-scale printed ice analogues in Atmospheric Science (E3DP-IANAS)

我们计划使用曼彻斯特大学(UOM)最先进的3D打印设备来制造“模拟冰晶”，它类似于在地球大气中自然生长的真实冰晶。我们将这些类似物称为“Nanoice”，因为它们是使用Nanoscribe(TM)3D打印机制造的。在这一发现科学项目中，我们的目标是(1)探索纳米冰在校准用于测量和量化大气冰晶的探测器中的使用，以及(2)确定纳米冰是否可以用于量化冰粒的单粒子散射特性，这是减少气候不确定性的关键。冰晶的单颗粒散射特性对于减少云对气候的不确定性至关重要，但由于真实冰晶的瞬变性质，它们的测量是出了名的困难。为了实现这些任务，我们将首先在玻璃载玻片上制造不同大小和形状的纳米冰颗粒，以执行云粒子成像仪系列探测器的校准程序。这些探测器被用于英国航空测量设施(FAAM)研究飞机上，以量化冰云；然而，找到具有代表性的校准粒子是困难的。其次，我们将探索测量纳米冰颗粒的单颗粒散射特性。这将需要将单个纳米冰颗粒捕获到曼彻斯特大学现有的声悬浮设备中，用激光照射纳米冰颗粒，并测量任何散射光。后一项活动将使人们能够更好地了解冰粒形状对气候的影响。

We propose to use state-of-the-art 3D printing facilities at the University of Manchester (UoM) to fabricate "analogue ice crystals", which resemble real ice crystals that grow naturally in Earth's atmosphere. We will refer to these analogues as "Nanoice" because they are made using a Nanoscribe(TM) 3D printer. During this discovery science project our aim is to (1) explore the use of Nanoice in calibrating the probes that are used to measure and quantify atmospheric ice crystals and (2) to determine whether the Nanoice can be used to quantify the single particle scattering properties of ice particles, which is key to reducing climate uncertainty. The single particle scattering properties of ice crystals are of fundamental importance to reducing the uncertainty of clouds on climate, yet they are notoriously difficult to measure due to the transient nature of real ice crystals.In order to achieve these tasks we will first fabricate Nanoice particles of different sizes and shapes on glass slides to perform a calibration procedure for the cloud particle imager family of probes. These probes are used on the UK facility for airborne measurement (FAAM) research aircraft to quantify ice clouds; however, finding representative calibration particles is difficult. Secondly, we will explore measuring single particle scattering properties of Nanoice particles. This will require trapping single Nanoice particles inside an existing acoustic levitation device at the University of Manchester, illuminating the Nanoice particles with a laser, and measuring any scattered light. This latter activity will enable better understanding of the impact of ice particle shapes on climate.