Magnetospheric plasma analyzer for spacecraft with constrained resources

S. J. Bame; D. J. McComas; M. F. Thomsen; B. L. Barraclough; R. C. Elphic; J. P. Glore; J. T. Gosling; J. C. Chavez; E. P. Evans; F. J. Wymer

doi:10.1063/1.1144173

Magnetospheric plasma analyzer for spacecraft with constrained resources

S. J. Bame, D. J. McComas, M. F. Thomsen, B. L. Barraclough, R. C. Elphic, J. P. Glore, J. T. Gosling, J. C. Chavez, E. P. Evans, F. J. Wymer

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201 Scopus citations

Abstract

A light-weight, low-power, plasma analyzer is described that can be used for measuring the plasma environments of spacecraft with constrained resources. A unique system using a single electrostatic analyzer coupled to a single array of channel electron multipliers allows measurement of the three-dimensional energy per charge distributions of both ions and electrons over E/q ranges from ∼1 eV/q to >40 keV/q. Particles selected by the analyzer are post-accelerated into the multipliers to maintain sensitivity for the lowest energy particles. An instrument using this concept called the magnetospheric plasma analyzer (MPA) is described. Presently, three MPAs are in geosynchronous orbits (GEO) aboard spacecraft with International Designators of 1989-046, 1990-095, and 1991-080. The MPA and its response characteristics are described, and examples of on-orbit data showing some of the MPA capabilities are presented.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1026-1033
Number of pages	8
Journal	Review of Scientific Instruments
Volume	64
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1144173
State	Published - 1993
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Instrumentation

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10.1063/1.1144173

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title = "Magnetospheric plasma analyzer for spacecraft with constrained resources",

abstract = "A light-weight, low-power, plasma analyzer is described that can be used for measuring the plasma environments of spacecraft with constrained resources. A unique system using a single electrostatic analyzer coupled to a single array of channel electron multipliers allows measurement of the three-dimensional energy per charge distributions of both ions and electrons over E/q ranges from ∼1 eV/q to >40 keV/q. Particles selected by the analyzer are post-accelerated into the multipliers to maintain sensitivity for the lowest energy particles. An instrument using this concept called the magnetospheric plasma analyzer (MPA) is described. Presently, three MPAs are in geosynchronous orbits (GEO) aboard spacecraft with International Designators of 1989-046, 1990-095, and 1991-080. The MPA and its response characteristics are described, and examples of on-orbit data showing some of the MPA capabilities are presented.",

author = "Bame, {S. J.} and McComas, {D. J.} and Thomsen, {M. F.} and Barraclough, {B. L.} and Elphic, {R. C.} and Glore, {J. P.} and Gosling, {J. T.} and Chavez, {J. C.} and Evans, {E. P.} and Wymer, {F. J.}",

year = "1993",

doi = "10.1063/1.1144173",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "64",

pages = "1026--1033",

journal = "Review of Scientific Instruments",

issn = "0034-6748",

publisher = "American Institute of Physics Publising LLC",

number = "4",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Magnetospheric plasma analyzer for spacecraft with constrained resources

AU - Bame, S. J.

AU - McComas, D. J.

AU - Thomsen, M. F.

AU - Barraclough, B. L.

AU - Elphic, R. C.

AU - Glore, J. P.

AU - Gosling, J. T.

AU - Chavez, J. C.

AU - Evans, E. P.

AU - Wymer, F. J.

PY - 1993

Y1 - 1993

N2 - A light-weight, low-power, plasma analyzer is described that can be used for measuring the plasma environments of spacecraft with constrained resources. A unique system using a single electrostatic analyzer coupled to a single array of channel electron multipliers allows measurement of the three-dimensional energy per charge distributions of both ions and electrons over E/q ranges from ∼1 eV/q to >40 keV/q. Particles selected by the analyzer are post-accelerated into the multipliers to maintain sensitivity for the lowest energy particles. An instrument using this concept called the magnetospheric plasma analyzer (MPA) is described. Presently, three MPAs are in geosynchronous orbits (GEO) aboard spacecraft with International Designators of 1989-046, 1990-095, and 1991-080. The MPA and its response characteristics are described, and examples of on-orbit data showing some of the MPA capabilities are presented.

AB - A light-weight, low-power, plasma analyzer is described that can be used for measuring the plasma environments of spacecraft with constrained resources. A unique system using a single electrostatic analyzer coupled to a single array of channel electron multipliers allows measurement of the three-dimensional energy per charge distributions of both ions and electrons over E/q ranges from ∼1 eV/q to >40 keV/q. Particles selected by the analyzer are post-accelerated into the multipliers to maintain sensitivity for the lowest energy particles. An instrument using this concept called the magnetospheric plasma analyzer (MPA) is described. Presently, three MPAs are in geosynchronous orbits (GEO) aboard spacecraft with International Designators of 1989-046, 1990-095, and 1991-080. The MPA and its response characteristics are described, and examples of on-orbit data showing some of the MPA capabilities are presented.

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JO - Review of Scientific Instruments

JF - Review of Scientific Instruments

IS - 4

ER -

Magnetospheric plasma analyzer for spacecraft with constrained resources

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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