The Development of a Low-Voltage, Ultra-Compact Plasma Spectrometer
Abstract
The NASA Heliophysics Roadmap outlines several technological challenges to realizing primary heliophysics science goals through the use of microsatellites and satellite constellations. These include the need to reduce mass and power requirements of instruments as well as "How to manufacture, integrate and test large numbers of instruments and subsystems within reasonable cost and schedule." We are developing a low-voltage, ultra-compact plasma spectrometer that is designed to meet these challenges. The initial instrument will measure ions or electrons with energies 3-20 keV without the requirement to sweep voltages. We have built and tested the first-run components of the spectrometer, including a collimator, energy analyzer, and detector. We will present these test results along with design improvements that we plan to implement based on test results. We will also present designs to modify the instrument to detect 1) lower energy ion and electron populations through the use of a micro-Faraday cup detector design and 2) neutrals through the use of a carbon foil entrance layer. This instrument development work will make missions such as Magnetospheric Constellation or Global Dynamics Constellation possible. Work is supported by NASA award NNX14AJ36G and Department of Energy award STTR DE-SC0013841.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AGUFMSM53C..05K
- Keywords:
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- 2494 Instruments and techniques;
- IONOSPHEREDE: 2794 Instruments and techniques;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS