Uncovering the 3D structure of fractal ice grains in plasma from a experimental video of their rotation

Fractal ice grains in dusty plasmas, which cause phenomena such as noctilucent cloud formation and planetesimal aggregation, have significant implications for astrophysics, atmospheric science, and plasma technology due to their unique charging and aerodynamic properties.

We present an innovative methodology adapted from Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF, a computer vision technique), enabling simultaneous reconstruction of the three-dimensional structure, rotation, translation, and subtle deformations of fractal ice grains directly from high-speed video imaging.

The detailed three-dimensional structures obtained from our NeRF-based technique would allow for further assessment on how these complex shapes enhance grain charging and interaction with ion drift flows in plasma environments. We will investigate the mechanisms behind observed grain rotations induced by ion flows, highlighting how fractal geometry affects drag forces, gravitational influence, and electrostatic interactions in a plasma.