Electron Temperatures in the Venusian Ionosphere From Parker Solar Probe Using Quasi‐Thermal Noise Spectroscopy

Abstract

Parker Solar Probe (PSP) uses Venus gravity assists (VGA) to achieve the closest orbits to the Sun by a spacecraft. During the third (VGA3) and fourth (VGA4) Venus gravity assists, the PSP entered the Venusian ionosphere. The core electrons could not be detected as they were below the SWEAP/SPAN electrostatic analyzer instrument energy threshold. However, there is another way to estimate the core temperature using quasi‐thermal noise (QTN) data measured by the PSP/FIELDS Radio Frequency Spectrometer instrument. QTN spectroscopy offers an effective tool for measuring electron temperature and density when the electrons are too cold for other instruments to measure, as is the case with VGA3 and VGA4. Low‐frequency plasma wave data from the closest approach during VGA3 and VGA4 was analyzed with the QTN spectroscopy technique to determine the density and first‐ever in‐situ thermal electron temperature of the Venusian ionosphere at solar minimum.