A charged particle spectrometer for space experimentation

Abstract

This article presents the design and some test results for a near-earth, satelliteborne solid state detector spectrometer intended to provide useful data on the directionality, spectral intensity, and time fluctuations of the natural and artificial trapped radiation belts, solar flare proton- and alpha emissions, and primary cosmic ray protons and alphas. The objectives of the intended experiment translate into requirements of instrument performance which are concerned with the identification of the particle types in the environment and the simultaneous measurement of the spectral intensity of each, with sufficient directional, time, and energy resolution to allow the data to be related to current models of trapped belt structure and flare proton propagation. The significant performance characteristics of the electronic modules under pulser excitation are described, and the response of the solid state detectors to electrons and protons of various energies is displayed. Particular attention is given to the particle mass and energy resolution achievable with the chosen technique over a wide energy range characteristic of space radiation.