The Cluster Ion Spectroscopy experiment
Abstract
The Cluster Ion Spectrometry (CIS) experiment on board the four Cluster spacecraft and which consists of a comprehensive ionic plasma spectrometry package capable of obtaining full three dimensional ion distributions with high time resolution (in one spacecraft spin) and mass per charge resolution is presented. The broad scientific objectives and the wide dynamic range cannot be covered with a single instrument. Consequently, the CIS experiment comprises two different instruments, a Hot Ion Analyzer (HIA) and a time of flight ion Composition and Distribution Function (CODIF) analyzer. These sensors are controlled by a dual processor based Data Processing System (DPS), which permits extensive onboard processing. Both instruments use symmetrical top hat analyzers which provide a continuous, uniform, and well characterized phase-space coverage. The CODIF determines the distributions of the major ion species with energies from spacecraft potential to 40 keV/e with an angular resolution of 22.5 by 10.25 deg and with two different sensitivities. The HIA does not provide mass measurements, but extends the dynamic range to the highest ion fluxes, and has the necessary angular resolution capability (5.6 by 5.6 deg) for ion beam and solar wind measurements.
- Publication:
-
Cluster: Mission, Payload, and Supporting Activities
- Pub Date:
- March 1993
- Bibcode:
- 1993cmps.rept..133R
- Keywords:
-
- Cluster Mission;
- Ion Distribution;
- Measuring Instruments;
- Space Plasmas;
- Spectroscopy;
- Data Systems;
- Earth Magnetosphere;
- High Resolution;
- Payloads;
- Solar Wind;
- Astronautics (General)