Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Dec 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005agufm.p41a0928s&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2005, abstract #P41A-0928
Physics
Optics
2129 Interplanetary Dust, 2194 Instruments And Techniques, 6015 Dust, 6213 Dust
Scientific paper
An instrument to analyze the chemical composition of dust particles in space is under development. The device is a reflectron type time-of-flight mass spectrometer that measures the ions from the impact generated plasma due to hypervelocity dust impacts on solid surfaces. The mass spectrometer consists of the target, a single-stage reflectron potential configuration and an ion detector. The SIMION ion optics software package has been used to investigate different potential field configurations and optimize the mass resolution and focusing of the ions. The final configuration selected uses a set of six ring electrodes on the side and six annular electrodes at the top biased to different potentials to create the potential distribution of the reflectron. The instrument has a cylindrical shape of approximately 62 cm diameter and 40 cm height. The annular target is of effective area > 0.1 m2. The target is biased to 5 kV and a grounded grid in front of the target is used to accelerate the ions. A microchannel plate is used as an ion detector. The laboratory model of the instrument has been fabricated and is undergoing preliminary testing. Dust impacts are simulated by using a frequency doubled (532 nm) Nd:YAG laser with ~8 ns pulse length. The laser can deliver up to 10 mJ of energy per pulse and its beam is focused to a ~15 micron spot size. The preliminary tests using silver and brass targets have indicated mass resolution M/dM ,l 150. The instrument will be calibrated at the Heidelberg dust acceleration facility. Acknowledgement: The project is supported by NASA.
Amyx Keegan
Auer Stefan
Bano Gregor
Gruen Eberhard
Horanyi Mihaly
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