A highly miniaturized electron and ion energy spectrometer prototype for the rapid analysis of space plasmas

Abstract

MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) plasma analyzers are a promising possibility for future space missions but conventional instrument designs are not necessarily well suited to micro-fabrication. Here, a candidate design for a MEMS-based instrument has been prototyped using electron-discharge machining. The device features 10 electrostatic analyzers that, with a single voltage applied to it, allow five different energies of electron and five different energies of positive ion to be simultaneously sampled. It has been simulated using SIMION and the electron response characteristics tested in an instrument calibration chamber. Small deviations found in the electrode spacing of the as-built prototype were found to have some effect on the electron response characteristics but do not significantly impede its performance.

A miniaturised, nested-cylindrical electrostatic analyser geometry for dual electron and ion, multi-energy measurements

“…As has been discussed elsewhere [9] an EDM (Electron Discharge Machining) prototype of the design was made and tested in an electron instrument calibration chamber. This prototype was found to feature some unintended variations in the channel widths (∆R), which can be seen by close inspection of figure 8.…”

“…the x-y plane terminating plate electrodes in the plus and minus Z direction in figure 2. The full three-dimensional nature of the electrodes is shown in an exaggerated cutaway schematic view in figure 3, displaying the terminating end-plates that connect the black electrodes (construction details are shown in a previous publication [9]). It can be seen in this figure that both ends (top and bottom in this orientation) of the CATS channels plates for all channels are marked black, i.e.…”

“…The CATS electrostatic analyser design [9] was developed as a prototype study of this geometry. It is well-suited to micro-fabrication methods and was developed primarily for aerospace applications including space weather detectors for nanosatellites and high time resolution instruments for multipoint space physics studies [10,11].…”

Small Satellite Mission Concepts for Space Weather Research and as Pathfinders for Operations

“…QB50's objective is to carry out atmospheric research within the lower thermosphere, 200–380 km altitude, by providing multi‐point, in‐situ measurements for many months. QB50 comprises numerous CubeSats, each flying a range of instruments including an Ion‐Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS; Bedington et al., 2014), which observes temperature and neutral density.…”

Electrostatic analyzer with a 3‐D instantaneous field of view for fast measurements of plasma distribution functions in space

“…An alternative technique studied by Bedington et al . [] consists in using a large number of 2‐D FOV highly miniaturized plasma spectrometer whose design is well suited to microfabrication. This would in principle allow for simultaneous high time resolution analysis of electrons and ions distribution functions.…”