Observation and Analysis of Smectic Islands in Space

OASIS studies the unique behavior of liquid crystals in microgravity, including their overall motion and the merging of crystal layers known as smectic islands. Liquid crystals are used for display screens in televisions and clocks, and they also occur in soaps and in cell membranes. The experiment allows detailed studies of the behavior of these structures, and how microgravity affects their unique ability to act like both a liquid and a solid crystal. The specific research objectives are: -To exploit the unique characteristics of freely suspended liquid crystals in a microgravity environment to advance the understanding of fluid state physics. -Study basic 2D hydrodynamics/fluid physics, probe droplet/island diffusion, hydrodynamic interactions, and droplet/island coalescence