Electron- and Ion-optical Simulations for The SupraThermal Electron, Ion, and Neutral (STEIN) Sensor for Solar Orbiter
Abstract
The SupraThermal Electron Ion and Neutrals sensor is part of the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) suite of instruments on Solar Orbiter. It shall measure low-energy electrons (2-100 keV), ions (4-100 keV) and also neutral atoms (4-100 keV). STEIN has two fields of view, one pointing parallel to the nominal orbit-averaged Parker spiral, and one pointing antiparallel, allowing measurements of zeroth-order anisotropy in this low energy range. It combines electrostatic deflection for species (electron, ion, neutral) discrimination with total energy measurement and has several detection pixels allowing for very crude "imaging" in the neutral particles. These particles originate deep inside the solar corona as charged particles which then charge exchange on their way into the heliosphere from when on they are no longer influenced by magnetic fields. Thus, neutral particle observations open a "new window" into solar coronal physics. Using the SIMION software, particle trajectories are traced to optimize the design of the electrostatic deflector unit and the multi-pixel detector layout. In this work, we will present the basic measurement principles and a preliminary instrument design based on these studies.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFMSH11B1625T
- Keywords:
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- 7500 SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY;
- 7509 SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY / Corona;
- 7514 SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY / Energetic particles;
- 7594 SOLAR PHYSICS;
- ASTROPHYSICS;
- AND ASTRONOMY / Instruments and techniques