Computer Science
Scientific paper
Apr 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003eaeja.....2252b&link_type=abstract
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly, Abstracts from the meeting held in Nice, France, 6 - 11 April 2003, abstract #2252
Computer Science
Scientific paper
The conditions which prevail in the atmospheres of most planets in the Solar System, in particular the telluric ones, are likely to give rise to their electrification. On Mars, the main charging processes are the emission of photo-electrons from the surface and, more importantly, impact electrification due to dust particle collisions during dust storms. In the frame of the NETLANDER project we are presently developing an electric field experiment (ARES, Atmospheric Relaxation and Electric Field Sensor) aimed at measuring the quasi-DC electric field and conductivity in the atmosphere as well as low frequency emissions. These latter may originate from electrical discharges in the atmosphere and from plasma phenomena at the interface between the solar wind and the planetary ionosphere. The instrument will measure the three main parameters of interest, the quasi DC electric field, the electrical conductivity of the atmosphere and the ELF/VLF electric fields. It derives from similar balloon borne experiments and makes use of the well known double probe technique. Owing to mass and power constraints the instrument is restricted to the measurement of only the vertical component of the electric fields. To this end 2 identical cylindrical sensors are used, disposed on a ˜1 meter long vertical boom. In the course of the development of the ARES experiment we have improved the balloon experiment design by floating the preamplifiers to allow to measure the large electric fields that are expected on Mars. The present range of ˜±200 V/m, with a resolution of ˜6 mV/m, can even be enhanced and the 3 kHz frequency bandwith is suited to the detection of fast breakdown events as those observed during terrestrial storms. AC electric fields are measured from about 10 Hz up to 10 kHz with a dynamical range from ˜2 μV/m to ˜50 mV/m. The upper frequency limit can be easily increased. The electrical conductivity is determined from the relaxation time of a sensor after it has been displaced from its equilibrium potential, within a range from 10-12 to 10-9 S. The operation of the instrument and the onboard data analysis are controlled through a DSP which is also used as the interface with the CDMS. We shall briefly describe in the presentation the electronics and simulation results. A more detailed description of the planned operation of the instrument and of the foreseen onboard data analysis (filtering, power spectra calculations, decimation, compression, ...) will be provided. The total weight of this instrument is presently less than 110 g including the sensors. In order to validate the correct operation of the experiment in realistic conditions, a prototype will be flown next summer onboard a stratospheric balloon.
Aubry Denis
Berthelier Jean-Jacques
Duvet Ludovic
Hamelin Michel
Yahi S.
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