A hybrid electrostatic retarding potential analyzer for the measurement of plasmas at extremely high energy resolution.
Rev Sci Instrum
; 89(11): 113306, 2018 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30501327
ABSTRACT
Many space plasmas (especially electrons generated in planetary ionospheres) exhibit fine-detailed structures that are challenging to fully resolve with the energy resolution of typical space plasma analyzers (10% â 20%). While analyzers with higher resolution have flown, generally this comes at the expense of sensitivity and temporal resolution. We present a new technique for measuring plasmas with extremely high energy resolution through the combination of a top-hat Electrostatic Analyzer (ESA) followed by an internally mounted Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA). When high resolutions are not required, the RPA is grounded, and the instrument may operate as a typical general-purpose plasma analyzer using its ESA alone. We also describe how such an instrument may use its RPA to remotely vary the geometric factor (sensitivity) of a top hat analyzer, as was performed on the New Horizons Solar Wind at Pluto and MAVEN SupraThermal and Thermal Ion Composition instruments. Finally, we present results from laboratory testing of our prototype, showing that this technique may be used to construct an instrument with 1.6% energy resolution, constant over all energies and angles.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Rev Sci Instrum
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos