Measurement of plasma drifts in planetary magnetospheres
Abstract
The GEOS satellites instrumentation is described. Plasma drift velocity and electric field are measured simultaneously and independently. The electric field sensor is an antenna made of two spherical probes separated by a distance of 40 m along a direction perpendicular to the spin axis. The field component measured by the aerial is derived from the difference between the electric potential of the two electrodes. The strength and orientation of the total field vector is computed, assuming that the electric and ambient magnetic fields are perpendicular. Plasma drift is measured, using four electron guns and one electron detector. The drift is evaluated by injecting an artificial beam with a 90 deg pitch angle and measuring its displacement after one or two gyrations.
- Publication:
-
Solar System and its Exploration
- Pub Date:
- November 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981ESASP.164...97G
- Keywords:
-
- Geos Satellites (Esa);
- Planetary Magnetic Fields;
- Plasma Drift;
- Earth Magnetosphere;
- Electric Fields;
- Satellite Antennas;
- Satellite-Borne Instruments;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration