Electron moments determination in negative spacecraft potential regions

Details Electron moments determination in negative spacecraft potential regions Electron moments determination in negative spacecraft potential regions

Publishing date

Sep 2008

URL

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008epsc.conf..206l&link_type=abstract

Journals

European Planetary Science Congress 2008, Proceedings of the conference held 21-25 September, 2008 in Münster, Germany. Online a

Science

Physics

Type

Scientific paper

Abstract

The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft has been in orbit around Saturn since 1st July 2004. During this period the Cassini Plasma Electron Spectrometer (CAPS-ELS) has collected an unparalleled dataset exploring the planet's plasma and fields envi- ronment. This has provided investigations of the physical and chemical processes in the different regions of Saturn's complex and dynamic environment. Electrons are good tracers of magnetic field line topology due to their large ther- mal velocity and they provide an indication of the total plasma density when the ion instruments are unable to view the ion distribution. The CAPS-ELS is designed to study the low-energy electron populations observed in-situ in Saturn's magne- tosphere from the micro-physical to the global scale. However, in regions of cold, highly dense plasma the spacecraft floats to a negative potential, which causes part of the electron population to be accelerated away from the spacecraft so that only the more energetic electrons are detected by the CAPS-ELS. This has a detrimental effect on the determination of the electron moments calculated with data from the CAPS-ELS instrument. We present CAPS-ELS data and discuss the limitations of our electron parameter derivation methods during periods of negative spacecraft charging. Several examples of how this leads to an underestimation of the derived electron density will be shown. We will then show some preliminary results of methods in development to correct for this problem and produce accurate moments. We also discuss the problem of determining the value of the negative potential both empirically from the CAPS- ELS data and from a theoretical understanding of the charging of the spacecraft.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Electron moments determination in negative spacecraft potential regions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Electron moments determination in negative spacecraft potential regions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electron moments determination in negative spacecraft potential regions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1793098