Compact particle detector for low-energy particle measurements

摘要

Abstract: We are developing an Energetic Particle detector capable of making particle measurements in a variety of heliospheric environments, and, in particular in the outer corona of the sun. The current concept is a miniature ion composition/electron telescope that will measure the energy spectra, mass composition and detailed pitch angle distribution of energetic ions and electrons from approximately 10 keV per nucleon to approximately 3 MeV total energy. The telescope is made up of two main components: a time of flight section and a solid state detector array. A collimator defines the acceptance angles for the incoming particles while the time of flight and solid state detector sections measure the velocity and energy of the ions. Electrons are recorded as essentially zero time of flight particles. The miniaturized detector is approximately 100 mm in diameter and measures particles in 6 angular sectors across 140$DGR@; each sector has an opening angle of 12$DGR in the orthogonal direction. Extensive use of VLSI techniques and chip on board design allows all electronics to be mounted on circular boards that mate directly to the detector. The entire instrument is less than 0.5 kg in mass and requires less than 0.5 W of regulated power.!10