Magazine Article

Small Deflection Energy Analyzer for Energy and Angular Distributions

TBMG-6367

12/01/2009

Abstract
Content

The development of the Small Deflection Energy Analyzer (SDEA) charged-particle spectrometer for energy and angle distributions responds to a longstanding need to measure the wind velocity vector in Earth’s thermosphere, and to obtain the ion-drift vector in the ionosphere. The air and ions above 120 km are endowed with bulk velocities and temperatures just like air near the ground, but with separate spatial and temporal variations. It is important to understand these not only for study of the physics and chemistry of the Sun-Earth connection, but also for spacecraft orbit predictions, and communications through the ionosphere. The SDEA consists of a pair of parallel conducting plates separated by a small distance, with an entrance slit on one end, and an exit slit on the other. A voltage applied to these plates develops an electric field between the plates, and this field deflects ions passing through it. If an ion has too little energy, it will strike one of the plates. If it has too much, it will strike the back wall. An ion with the amount of energy being searched for will have its trajectory bent just enough to exit the back slit.

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Citation
"Small Deflection Energy Analyzer for Energy and Angular Distributions," Mobility Engineering, December 1, 2009.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Dec 1, 2009
Product Code
TBMG-6367
Content Type
Magazine Article
Language
English