The solar wind around pluto (SWAP) instrument aboard New Horizons

D. McComas, F. Allegrini, F. Bagenal, P. Casey, P. Delamere, D. Demkee, G. Dunn, H. Elliott, J. Hanley, K. Johnson, J. Langle, G. Miller, S. Pope, M. Reno, B. Rodriguez, N. Schwadron, P. Valek, S. Weidner

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument on New Horizons will measure the interaction between the solar wind and ions created by atmospheric loss from Pluto. These measurements provide a characterization of the total loss rate and allow us to examine the complex plasma interactions at Pluto for the first time. Constrained to fit within minimal resources, SWAP is optimized to make plasma-ion measurements at all rotation angles as the New Horizons spacecraft scans to image Pluto and Charon during the flyby. To meet these unique requirements, we combined a cylindrically symmetric retarding potential analyzer with small deflectors, a top-hat analyzer, and a redundant/coincidence detection scheme. This configuration allows for highly sensitive measurements and a controllable energy passband at all scan angles of the spacecraft.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationNew Horizons
Subtitle of host publicationReconnaissance of the Pluto-Charon System and the Kuiper Belt
PublisherSpringer New York
Pages261-313
Number of pages53
ISBN (Print)9780387895178
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

Keywords

  • Pickup ions
  • Pluto plasma interaction
  • Solar wind

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