1. AMBRE: A Compact Instrument to Measure Thermal Ions, Electrons and Electrostatic Charging Onboard Spacecraft
- Author
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Lavraud, B., Cara, A., Payan, D., Ballot, Y., Sauvaud, J. -A., Mathon, R., Camus, T., Chassela, O., Seran, H. -C., Tap, H., Bernal, O., Berthomier, M., Devoto, P., Fedorov, A., Rouzaud, J., Rubiella-Romeo, J., Techer, J. -D, Zely, D., Galinier, S., and Bruno, D.
- Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics ,Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics ,Physics - Space Physics - Abstract
The Active Monitor Box of Electrostatic Risks (AMBER) is a double-head thermal electron and ion electrostatic analyzer (energy range 0-30 keV) that was launched onboard the Jason-3 spacecraft in 2016. The next generation AMBER instrument, for which a first prototype was developed and then calibrated at the end of 2017, constitutes a significant evolution that is based on a single head to measure both species alternatively. The instrument developments focused on several new subsystems (front-end electronics, high-voltage electronics, mechanical design) that permit to reduce instrument resources down to ~ 1 kg and 1.5 W. AMBER is designed as a generic radiation monitor with a twofold purpose: (1) measure magnetospheric thermal ion and electron populations in the range 0-35 keV, with significant scientific potential (e.g., plasmasphere, ring current, plasma sheet), and (2) monitor spacecraft electrostatic charging and the plasma populations responsible for it, for electromagnetic cleanliness and operational purposes.
- Published
- 2019
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