Spherical sensors with glassy carbon coatings for measurement of electric fields in near-Earth plasma on board satellites

Abstract

The development of satellite research to study the processes in the near-Earth plasma requires improvement of the scientific equipment, measurement methods and increasing the accuracy of the obtained data. There are actual and relevant issues which worth investigation: detailed study of the energy, momentum and mass transfer processes in the critical areas of the solar wind -magnetosphere system; explore the effects of the processes taking place in the earth's crust, which cause earthquakes; the effects of magnetospheric-ionospheric plasma related to climate changes, etc. The investigation of the processes taking place in the magnetospheric-ionospheric plasma requires simultaneous multicomponent measurements of the main parameters of the space plasma, including also the electric fields, at different points of the Earth orbit, on the board of satellites. For the measurement of direct (DC) and alternating (AC) electric fields in the magnetospheric-ionospheric plasma, various methods and technologies for sensor preparation are developed and applied successfully. A method of the double probe by using an original Bulgarian technology for sealing and covering with glassy carbon of the surface of the sensitive parts of the probes, which ensures maximal accuracy of measurements of constant and alternating electric fields when working in open space, is considered. The experiments from eight satellites and one technological experiment on board the International Space Station (ISS), where these measurements were carried out, are presented. Possibilities for the application of the obtained results in the analysis of energy transfer processes in the Earth plasma and their impact on the environment are demonstrated. This work is financially supported by the Bulgarian National Science Fund under Project KP-06-N27/2 (КП-06-Н27/2), 08.12.2018.