SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “particle instrumentation”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2021

SERENA: Particle Instrument Suite for Determining the Sun-Mercury Interaction from BepiColombo

The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury will provide simultaneous measurements from two spacecraft, offering an unprecedented opportunity to investigate magnetospheric and exospheric particle dynamics at Mercury as well as their interactions with solar wind, solar radiation, and interplanetary dust. The particle instrument suite SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances) is flying in space on-board the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and is the only instrument for ion and neutral particle detection aboard the MPO. It comprises four independent sensors: ELENA for neutral particle flow detection, Strofio for neutral gas detection, PICAM for planetary ions observations, and MIPA, mostly for solar wind ion measurements. SERENA is managed by a System Control Unit located inside the ELENA box. In the present paper the scientific goals of this suite are described, and then the four units are detailed, as well as their major features and calibration results. Finally, the SERENA operational activities are shown during the orbital path around Mercury, with also some reference to the activities planned during the long cruise phase.

Mercury’s environment↗

NASA NTRS2021

SERENA: Particle Instrument Suite for Determining the Sun-Mercury Interaction from BepiColombo

S. Orsini↗

NASA NTRS1989

On-board data analysis techniques for space plasma particle instruments

This article describes the on-board data analysis techniques used on two recent space plasma particle instruments to compute meaningful parameters of three-dimensional plasma distributions in real time. These parameters may be transmitted with much higher time resolution than the full distribution within the limited telemetry. In addition, they greatly reduce the ground processing requirements.

Curtis, D. W.↗

NASA NTRS1976

An alpha particle instrument with alpha, proton, and X-ray modes for planetary chemical analyses

The interaction of alpha particles with matter is employed in a compact instrument that could provide rather complete in-situ chemical analyses of surfaces and thin atmospheres of extraterrestrial bodies. The instrument is a miniaturized and improved version of the Surveyor lunar instrument. The backscattering of alpha particles and (alpha, p) reactions provide analytical data on the light elements (carbon-iron). An X-ray mode that detects the photons produced by the alpha sources provides sensitivity and resolution for the chemical elements heavier than about silicon. The X-rays are detected by semiconductor detectors having a resolution between 150 and 250 eV at 5.9 keV. Such an instrument can identify and determine with good accuracy 99 percent of the atoms (except hydrogen) in rocks. For many trace elements, the detecting sensitivity is a few ppm. Auxiliary sources could be used to enhance the sensitivities for elements of special interest. The instrument could probably withstand the acceleration involved in semi-hard landings.

Economou, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Structure and properties of the subsolar magnetopause for northward interplanetary magnetic field - Multiple-instrument particle observations

The paper examines the structure and properties of the subsolar magnetopause for northward IMF on the basis of measurements from 10 different instrument for three ISEE crossings. It is shown that the overall structure and properties are similar for the three crossings, indicating that the magnetopause is relatively well determined in the subsolar region for strongly northward IMF. The combined data set suggests that the magnetopause region is best organized by defining a sheath transition layer and steplike boundary layers. The electron flux enhancements in the lowest energies in the boundary layers and magnetosphere are found to be ionospheric electrons and not photoelectrons from the spacecraft. For northward IMF, they are photoelectrons, but for southward IMF they may be secondary electrons. The density measurements from differential and integral techniques are similar, leaving no room for a significant 'invisible' population.

Song, P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Performance and operating envelope of imaging and scattering particle sizing instruments

Scattering and imaging type particle sizing instruments are analyzed in terms of their ability to make accurate determinations of particle size distributions, number density, and total mass. Sources of counting and sizing errors are explained. Ways are described of identifying these errors and how these errors can effect the measurements.

Hovenac, Edward A.↗

NASA NTRS2022

Revolutionizing Our Understanding of Particle Energization in Space Plasmas Using on-Board Wave-Particle Correlator Instrumentation

A leap forward in our understanding of particle energization in plasmas throughout the heliosphere is essential to answer longstanding questions in heliophysics, including the heating of the solar corona, acceleration of the solar wind, and energization of particles that lead to observable phenomena, such as the Earth’s aurora. The low densities and high temperatures of typical heliospheric environments lead to weakly collisional plasma conditions. Under these conditions, the energization of particles occurs primarily through collisionless interactions between the electromagnetic fields and the individual plasma particles with energies characteristic of a particular interaction. To understand how the plasma heating and particle acceleration impacts the macroscopic evolution of the heliosphere, impacting phenomena such as extreme space weather, it is critical to understand these collisionless wave-particle interactions on the characteristic ion and electron kinetic timescales. Such understanding requires high-cadence measurements of both the electromagnetic fields and the three-dimensional particle velocity distributions. Although existing instrument technology enables these measurements, a major challenge to maximize the scientific return from these measurements is the limited amount of data that can be transmitted to the ground due to telemetry constraints. A valuable, but underutilized, approach to overcome this limitation is to compute on-board correlations of the maximum-cadence field and particle measurements to improve the sampling time by several orders of magnitude. Here we review the fundamentals of the innovative field-particle correlation technique, present a formulation of the technique that can be implemented as an on-board wave-particle correlator, and estimate results that can be achieved with existing instrumental capabilities for particle velocity distribution measurements.

plasma heating↗

NASA NTRS1993

Pinhole Calibrator For Particle-Sizing Instrument

Rotating-pinhole calibrator designed for use in calibrating and testing optical instrument measuring sizes of cloud droplets, dust particles, and other small particles suspended in flowing air. Easily attachable to particle-size-measuring instrument and suitable for both quick verification of calibration in field and detailed calibration studies in laboratory. Calibrator used to determine such operating parameters of instrument as optical collection angles, depth of field, profile of laser beam used to measure particles, and response to trajectory of particle. Also used to align instrument. Pinhole reused any number of times without risk of variation in diffraction pattern. Furthermore, size of pinhole chosen precisely and at will.

Hovenac, Edward↗

NASA NTRS2000

Chandra X-Ray Observatory's Radiation Environment and the AP-8/AE-8 Model

The Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) was launched on July 23, 1999 and reached its final orbit on August 7, 1999. The CXO is in a highly elliptical orbit, approximately 140,000 km x 10,000 km, and has a period of roughly 63.5 hours (approx. 2.6 days). It transits the Earth's Van Allen belts once per orbit during which no science observations can be performed due to the high radiation environment. The Chandra X-ray Observatory Center (CXC) currently uses the National Space Science Data Center's "near Earth" AP-8/AE-8 radiation belt model to predict the start and end times of passage through the radiation belts. However, our scheduling software only uses a simple dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field. The resulting B, L magnet coordinates, do not always give sufficiently accurate predictions of the start and end times of transit of the Van Allen belts. We show this by comparing to the data from Chandra's on-board radiation monitor, the EPHIN (Electron, Proton, Helium Instrument particle detector) instrument. We present evidence that demonstrates this mis- of the radiation belts as well as data that also demonstrate the significant variability of one radiation belt transit to the next as experienced by the CXO. We present an explanation for why the dipole implementation of the AP-8/AE-8 gives inaccurate results. We are also investigating use of the Magnetospheric Specification and Forecast Model (MSM) - a model that also accounts for radiation belt variability and geometry.

Virani, S. N.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Laser diffraction particle sizing: Instrument probe volume relocation and elongation

The effective probe volume of laser diffraction particle sizing instruments depends on many instrument parameters. In particular the probe volume axial boundaries and its location along laser beam are essentially defined by the onset of a vignetting effect where light scattered at large angles from small particles misses the transform lens. This vignetting effect results in a probe volume that must be inconveniently close to the lens in order to detect smaller diameter particles (less than 100 micrometers). With the addition of an appropriately designed Keplerian telescope, the probe volume may be relocated and elongated. The theory of operation of this supplemental optical system is described. Design considerations for these supplemental optical systems are described, including recommendations for lens specifications, assembly and use. An image transfer system is described which has been designed for use on a Malvern 2600HSD instrument. Experimental validation of this image transfer system is described.

Anderson, Robert C.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Comparative measurements using different particle size instruments

This paper discusses the measurement and comparison of particle size and velocity measurements in sprays. The general nature of sprays and the development of standard, consistent research sprays are described. The instruments considered in this paper are: pulsed laser photography, holography, television, and cinematography; laser anemometry and interferometry using visibility, peak amplitude, and intensity ratioing; and laser diffraction. Calibration is by graticule, reticle, powders with known size distributions in liquid cells, monosize sprays, and, eventually, standard sprays. Statistical analyses including spatial and temporal long-time averaging as well as high-frequency response time histories with conditional sampling are examined. Previous attempts at comparing instruments, the making of simultaneous or consecutive measurements with similar types and different types of imaging, interferometric, and diffraction instruments are reviewed. A program of calibration and experiments for comparing and assessing different instruments is presented.

Chigier, N.↗

NASA NTRS1970

Energetic particles experiment instrumentation packaging program for IMP-F (Explorer 34) and IMP-G (Explorer 41) NASA Interplanetary Monitoring Platform program

The package design and assembly techniques for the IMP-F and IMP-G space-physics experiments, provided for the NASA Interplanetary Monitoring Platform Program are described. Thin-film, hybrid, integrated circuits used in these instruments to increase component density and reliability, and special procedures and precautions for the fabrication of space hardware are described.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1985

An integrated development facility for the calibration of low-energy charged particle flight instrumentation

A system was developed for the calibration and development of thermal ion instrumentation. The system provides an extended beam with usable current rates, approx. 1 pA/sq cm, at beam energies as low as 1 eV, with much higher values available with increasing energy. A tandem electrostatic and variable geometry magnetic mirror configuration within the ion source optimizes the use of the ionizing electrons. The system is integrated under microcomputer control to allow automatic control and monitoring of the beam energy and composition and the mass and angle-dependent response of the instrument under test. The system is pumped by a combination of carbon vane and cryogenic sorption roughing pumps and ion and liquid helium operating pumps.

Biddle, A. P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Integrated development facility for the calibration of low-energy charged particle flight instrumentation

The design of a low-energy ion facility for development and calibration of thermal ion instrumentation is examined. A directly heated cathode provides the electrons used to produce ions by impact ionization and an applied magnetic field increases the path length followed by the electrons. The electrostatic and variable geometry magnetic mirror configuration in the ion source is studied. The procedures for the charge neutralization of the beam and the configuration and function of the 1.4-m drift tube are analyzed. A microcomputer is utilized to control and monitor the beam energy and composition, and the mass- and angle-dependent response of the instrument under testing. The facility produces a high-quality ion beam with an adjustable range of energies up to 150 eV; the angular divergence and uniformity of the beam is obtained from two independent retarding potential analyzers. The procedures for calibrating the instrument being developed are described.

Biddle, A. P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Operating envelopes of particle sizing instrumentation used for icing research

The Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe and the Optical Array Probe are analyzed in terms of their ability to make accurate determinations of water droplet size distributions. Sources of counting and sizing errors are explained. The paper describes ways of identifying these errors and how they can affect measurement.

Hovenac, Edward A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Operating envelopes of particle sizing instrumentation used for icing research

Hovenac, Edward A.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Novel Mars In-situ Wind & Wind-Blown Particle Measurement Instruments

Mars Sonic Anemometer We have developed the Mars Sonic Anemometer: an in-situ wind measuring instrument. It uses transducers to transmit ‘chirps’ through a volume of atmosphere and measures wind direction, speed, and temperature based on the chirp travel times when received by a paired transducer (fig 1). This method can rapidly take multiple samples of wind (~20 Hz) and can measure gentler wind speeds (~0.05 m/s) than current planetary weather stations (~1Hz and ~2m/s) and is more durable than recent Mars wind sensors. The Sonic Anemometer opens new avenues of research into Mars surface-to-atmosphere exchange (e.g., of heat, momentum or trace gases). It also can be recast as a hydrogen ortho-para sensor for a giant planet descent probe or as an infrasound detector for Earth or Venus. The performance of the sensor at Mars-like conditions of 6mbar of CO2 was validated at the Danish Mars Wind Tunnel.

Donald J Banfield↗

NASA NTRS1988

In situ chemical analyses of extraterrestrial bodies

One of the most important tasks on any sample return mission will have to be a quick sample characterization in order to guarantee a variety of collected samples. An alpha particle instrument with alpha, proton and X-ray modes can provide a quick and almost complete chemical analysis of Mars samples. This instrument is based on three interactions of the alpha particles from a radioactive source with matter: elastic scattering of the alpha particles by nuclei (alpha mode), (alpha,p) nuclear reaction with some light elements (proton mode), and excitation of the atomic structure of atoms by alpha particles, leading to emission of characteristic X-rays of the lunar surface at three sites during the Surveyor mission of 1967 to 1968. Since then the instrument has been improved and miniaturized substantially. As shown in the past, the alpha particle instrument can operate under Martian conditions without any degradation in the performance. The alpha and proton modes can provide vital information about the light elements, while the X-ray mode with its ambient temperature X-ray detector will be useful for the heavier elements. The excitation of the atomic structure is provided by the same alpha radioactive source that is used by alpha and proton modes or by an auxiliary X-ray source that is selected to enhance the sensitivity to some important geochemical elements.

Economou, Thanasis E.↗