Miniature ion analyzer for applications in space weather monitoring

Abstract

This article presents the results of development and testing of a simple and compact ion energy-mass analyzer. PICA (Plasma Ion Compact Analyzer) is designed as a solution for solar wind measurements, polar proton precipitation monitoring and as a miniature solution for various space plasma experiments. We introduce general ideas that lead to the development of a simple and low-cost instrument and review several operating plasma instruments. After we address our previous results in modeling a possible scheme of the instrument and indicate improvements based on the results of previous research. We introduce the details of computer modeling of an improved for space application model, the results of prototype tests and flight configuration unit preformance. During the tests we checked the energy and mass resolutions of the laboratory prototype (ΔE/E = 4% M/ΔM = 4–8). All parameters were checked for the energy range of the upper boundary of 5 keV owing to the limitations of our equipment. The analytical characteristics of the instrument allow for distinguishing the fluxes of protons and alpha particles and monitoring the main parameters of the solar wind. The flight configuration of the instrument and can be placed on 3U CubeSATs.