Electojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE): A Cubesat Mission to Study The Electrojets

EZIE will image the magnetic signature of the ionospheric electrojets using the Zeeman splitting of the O2 thermal emissions originating from around 80km altitude. EZIEs 3 smallsats each carry a microwave electrojet magnetogram (MEM) instrument for multipoint vector magnetic field measurements proximate to the source current thereby revealing the structure and evolution of the electrojets. In situ measurements of the electrojet region have proved elusive because the altitudes are too high for balloons and too low for satellites. EZIEs multi-point measurements will provide unprecedented 2D current maps allowing for a separation of spatial and temporal variations of the electrojets. EZIE will address two primary science questions that have remained elusive because of observation limitations: [Q1] What is the structure and evolution of the auroral electrojet segment of the substorm current wedge? [Q2] To what extent is the auroral electrojet modulated by localized (hundreds of kilometers) current segments? EZIEs science augmentation characterizes the spatiotemporal structure of equatorial electrojets and explores the physical mechanisms of their generation, resulting in EZIEs third science question: [Q3] What are the characteristics of the equatorial electrojet dynamics and structure? The presentation will provide an overview of the mission with a focus on the science story.