Abstract
Langmuir probe is an instrument to measure the plasma characteristics in the ionosphere. But the Langmuir probe is inadequate to be deployed on nano/micro-satellites. To measure the electron temperature (Te) and electron density (Ne) in the ionosphere, we have developed the Electron Temperature and Density Probe (TeNeP). TeNeP combines the functions of the electron temperature probe (ETP) and the planar impedance probe (IP). TeNeP has advantages of small size, light weight and low power consumption and fulfills the instrument requirements onboard nano/micro-satellites. It also overcomes the problem associated with finite satellite/probe surface area ratio for DC Langmuir probes. We have developed TeNeP system by using a microcontroller and signal generator chip to produce the RF driving signal for the TeNeP circuits. We have also built a simulation satellite to investigate the effect of different satellite conductive surface area on the TeNeP measurements. We have demonstrated that the TeNeP measurements are not affected by different satellite conductive surface areas by conducting experiments in the Space Plasma Operation Chamber at the Plasma and Space Science Center of the National Cheng Kung University. Thus, TeNeP can be deployed on nano/micro-satellites to measure the electron temperature and density in the ionosphere.
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