Laboratory Experimentation Model of the 270 Degree Electron Tophat Analyzer

by National Aeronautics and Space Administration

One of the most important space plasma measurements is that of a well-resolved low-energy (approximately 1 eV to 1 keV) electron spectrum. This range includes the regime where photoelectron and Auger processes are important as well as the very low energy range (down to 1 eV) where electron distributions of temperature 11,000 K are measurable. Knowledge of the structure (approx. eV scale) of the photoelectron spectrum can provide information on the composition of a planetary or cometary atmosphere. As evidence, scientists developing the Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) Electron Spectrometer (ELS) flying on the European Space Agency (ESA) Mars Express Mission have adapted their electron instrument to increase energy resolution in the photoelectron energy region as a means of remotely sensing the Martian atmosphere; the idea being that the Martian magnetic field is so weak that electron interaction between the source and point of detection is nonexistent; the measured electrons are therefore reflective of the processes occurring in the Martian atmosphere. Frahm, R. A. and Sharber, J. R. and Link, R. and Winningham, J. D. Goddard Space Flight Center

34 pages, Paperback

Published June 19, 2018

About the author

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.