A slotted disk velocity selector for the detection of energetic atoms above the atmosphere.
Abstract
A slotted disk velocity selector suitable for use in space has been developed to measure the flux of neutral particles with velocities up to 500 km per sec. The instrument is rugged, positively rejects photons and charged particles, and has a very narrow field of view. It was flown to an altitude of 300 km in the daytime on an unguided Superchief rocket: the instrument functioned well mechanically, and no interference from electrons or photons in the daytime ionosphere was encountered. Possible uses of the instrument are to measure the density and temperature of interstellar helium entering the solar system and to measure the neutral hydrogen flux and neutral H to H(+) ratio in a proton aurora.
- Publication:
-
Space Science Instrumentation
- Pub Date:
- August 1975
- Bibcode:
- 1975SSI.....1..377M
- Keywords:
-
- Atom Concentration;
- Ionospheric Composition;
- Particle Energy;
- Particle Flux Density;
- Rocket-Borne Instruments;
- Velocity Measurement;
- Density Measurement;
- Helium Atoms;
- Hydrogen Atoms;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Ionospheric Sounding;
- Rocket Sounding;
- Instrumentation and Photography