Method of producing a flow of finely divided particles using jet diaphragm discharge in the magnetogasdynamic (Mgd) mode

A method is described of producing a flow of finely divided particles using a pulsed jet diaphragm discharge (JDD) in vacuum. This method enables one to produce high-velocity (up to 30 km/s and higher) flows of stable microparticles of different chemical compositions sized 0.1μm to 900μm under vacuum conditions (pvac= 10-4-1.0 Pa). The possibility is demonstrated of employing this method for the simulation of combined impact made on the surface of optical materials by flows of micrometeoroids and finely divided particles of different sizes and velocities resulting from anthropogenic pollution of outer space in low circumterrestrial orbits.