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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 29: Oxides and insulators: Adsorption and reaction of small molecules – Poster

O 29.1: Poster

Montag, 9. März 2026, 18:00–20:00, P2

Impact of atomic oxygen on alumina surfaces investigated by molecular dynamics simulations — •Stephen Hocker, Hansjörg Lipp, and Johannes Roth — FMQ, University of Stuttgart, Germany

Oxygen atoms impinging on satellite surfaces in very low earth orbit (VLEO) transfer momentum and energy leading to material degradation as well as drag forces which result in orbital decay of the satellite. The first step in finding solutions to counteract significant drag is to gain understanding of the interaction of atomic oxygen (AO) with material surfaces. We investigate the angular and velocity distributions of reflected AO on crystalline and amorphous alumina surfaces using molecular dynamics simulations. Adsorption processes are evaluated and their influence on the surface structure and resulting changes regarding AO reflection is revealed. A strong dependence on the angle of incidence and the initial velocity is found. A high ratio of specular reflection can be obtained for grazing angles of incidence and hyperthermal initial velocities.

Keywords: atomic oxygen impact; alumina surfaces; very low earth orbit; molecular dynamics