An oscillating capacity electrometer for space applications
Abstract
An electrometer with an oscillating capacity obtained by vibrating a piezoelectric ceramic was tested. Without any optimization, the electrometer can detect 10 to the minus 16th power Coulomb. Its low mass, low power, and magnetic cleanliness make it suitable for space application, where, linked to an ion counting system, it can provide the ionization state of the measured ions. Optimization is hindered by a drift of the zero caused by the contact potentials.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- March 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984STIN...8427823M
- Keywords:
-
- Electrometers;
- Piezoelectric Ceramics;
- Spacecraft Instruments;
- Heavy Ions;
- Plasma Diagnostics;
- Solar Wind;
- Space Environment Simulation;
- Space Plasmas;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation