Detection of interplanetary nano-dust by the TDS electric waveform sampler intrument onboard STEREO
Abstract
Nano-particles are known to be present in the interplanetary medium. Nevertheless their mass fluxes and spatial distributions are poorly known. The impact of a nano-dust on a spacecraft produces a plasma cloud to which is associated an electric field that can be detected by the electric antennas of the spacecraft. The radio instruments thus detect a signal dependant on the nano-dust physical properties (mass, charge, velocity). Here we present a statistical study of the nano-particles impacts on the STEREO spacecraft detected by the TDS waveform sampler of the S/WAVES instrument during the 2007-2009 period, and discuss the physical properties of the dust population that can be derived by our method.
- Publication:
-
38th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010cosp...38..700A