Numerical Modeling and Analysis of Space-Based Electric Antennas via Plasma Particle Simulation

Better understanding of electric antenna properties (e.g., impedance) in space plasma environment is necessitated, because calibration of electric field data obtained by scientific spacecraft should be done with precise knowledge about the properties. Particularly, a strong demand arises regarding a sophisticated method for evaluating modern electric field instrument properties toward future magnetospheric missions. However, due to complex behavior of surrounding plasmas, it is often difficult to apply theoretical approaches to the antenna analysis including the plasma kinetic effects and the complex structure of such instruments. For the self-consistent antenna analysis, we have developed a new electromagnetic (EM) particle simulation code named EMSES. The code is based on the particle-in-cell technique and also supports a treatment of inner boundaries describing spacecraft conductive surfaces. This enables us to naturally include the effects of the inhomogeneous plasma environment such as a plasma and photoelectron sheaths created around the antenna. The support of the full EM treatment is also important to apply our tool to antenna properties for not only electrostatic (ES) but also EM plasma waves. In the current study, we particularly focus on an electric field instrument MEFISTO, which is designed for BepiColombo/MMO to the Mercury orbit. For the practical analysis of MEFISTO electric properties, it is important to consider an ES environment affected by the instrument body potential and the photoelectron distribution. We present numerical simulations on an ES structure around MEFISTO as well as current-voltage characteristic of the instrument. We have also started numerical modeling of a photoelectron guard electrode, which is one of key technologies for producing an optimal condition of plasma environment around the instrument. We have modeled a pre-amplifier housing called “puck”, the surface of which functions as the electrode. The photoelectron guard is then simulated as an artificial control of the puck surface potential. We report some simulation results on the influence of the guard electrode on the surrounding plasma environment and the electric properties of MEFISTO.