A low-energy particle experiment for both ion and electron measurements using a single microchannel plate-based detector

A low-energy particle experiment for both ion and electron measurements using a single microchannel plate-based detector

Citation

Yokota, S., Saito, Y., & Asamura, K. (2024). A low-energy particle experiment for both ion and electron measurements using a single microchannel plate-based detector. Earth, Planets and Space, 76(50). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-024-01997-7 

Keywords

  • Electrostatic analyzer (ESA)
  • Space plasma measurements
  • SS520-3 sounding rocket
  • Ion and electron measurements
  • Microchannel plate (MCP)
  • Carbon foil
  • Low-energy particle experiment (LEP)

Brief

This article presents the Low-Energy Particle (LEP) experiment, detailing its innovative design, which uses a single Microchannel Plate (MCP)-based detector to measure both ions and electrons alternately, enhancing resource efficiency in space plasma observations. 

Summary

The article presents a low-energy particle (LEP) experiment that uses an innovative approach to measure both ions and electrons in space. This method employs a single microchannel plate (MCP)-based detector, typically used for electrons, to detect both particle types by adding an ultra-thin carbon foil between the detector and the top-hat electrostatic analyzer (ESA). The experiment achieves this by alternately measuring ions and electrons, switching the polarity of the high-voltage power supply to the ESA, which allows for the detection of secondary electrons emitted from the carbon foil upon impact from either ions or electrons. This design offers a significant advantage by reducing the resources required compared to traditional methods that use separate detectors for ions and electrons.

The article details the instrumentation and testing of the LEP experiment, including the design of the top-hat ESA and the MCP-based detector. Simulations and laboratory tests validated the performance of the experiment, demonstrating its ability to accurately measure energy and angular distributions of both ions and electrons.

To showcase the practicality of this new technique, the LEP experiment was deployed on the SS520-3 sounding rocket mission, which aimed to study ion acceleration mechanisms in the cusp region of Earth's magnetosphere. The data collected during the rocket flight captured expected features of ions and electrons in the cusp region, confirming the experiment's effectiveness in a real-world observational setting.

The authors conclude by highlighting the potential of this technology for future space plasma research. The LEP experiment's ability to provide comprehensive measurements of both ions and electrons with a simplified and resource-efficient design makes it particularly well-suited for multi-point observations using small satellites and CubeSats, as well as for deeper space exploration missions.

 

Origin: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40623-024-01997-7
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