HR: 0800h
AN: P41A-0927 [Abstracts]
TI: Performance Tests of a Dust Telescope
AU: * Grun, E
EM: eberhard.gruen@mpi-hd.mpg.de
AF: MPI-K, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg, 69117
Germany
AU: * Grun, E
EM: eberhard.gruen@mpi-hd.mpg.de
AF: HIGP, 1680 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822
United States
AU: Srama, R
EM:
AF: MPI-K, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg, 69117
Germany
AU: Rachev, M
EM:
AF: MPI-K, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg, 69117
Germany
AU: Srowig, A
EM:
AF: MPI-K, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg, 69117
Germany
AU: Helfert, S
EM:
AF: MPI-K, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg, 69117
Germany
AU: Kempf, S
EM:
AF: MPI-K, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg, 69117
Germany
AU: Moragas-Klostermeyer, G
EM:
AF: MPI-K, Saupfercheckweg 1, Heidelberg, 69117
Germany
AU: Sternovski, Z
EM:
AF: LASP, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303-7814
United States
AU: Horanyi, M
EM:
AF: LASP, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303-7814
United States
AU: Amyx, K
EM:
AF: LASP, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, CO 80303-7814
United States
AU: Auer, S
EM:
AF: A&M Assoc., 1248 Backroad, Basye, VA 22810
United States
AB:
A dust telescope is a combination of a dust trajectory sensor together with an analyzer for the chemical composition of dust
particles in space. Dust particles' trajectories are determined by the measurement of the electric signals that are induced
when a charged grain flies through a position sensitive electrode system. The goal of the trajectory sensor is to measure
dust charges in the range 10-16 to 10-13 C and dust speeds in the range 6 to 100 km/s. The trajectory sensor has
four sensor planes consisting of about 15 wire electrodes each. Two adjacent planes have orthogonal wire direction. An ASIC
charge sensitive amplifier has been developed with a RMS noise of about 1.5 10-17 C. The signals from 32 electrodes are
digitized and sampled at 20 MHz rate by an ASIC transient recorder. This trajectory sensor was subject to performance tests
at the Heidelberg dust accelerator. Signals from dust particles in the speed range from 5 to 30 km/s demonstrate that
trajectories can be measured with accuracies of ~ 1° in direction, and ~ 1% in speed. A large area
chemical analyzer has been designed and fabricated that has an impact area of > 0.1 m2 and sufficient mass resolution in
order to resolve ions with atomic mass number up to 100. The mass spectrometer consists of the annular target area with an
acceleration grid and the single-stage reflectron and the central ion detector. Several field configurations have been found
that provide a theoretical mass resolution of M/Δ M > 150. An Ion Detector of 50 to 110 mm radius is necessary to
collect all generated ions. Two lab models have been constructed (one in Heidelberg and one in Boulder) and first laser and
dust accelerator tests with different projectile materials have been performed. Spectra of positive and negative ions
demonstrate that the performance goal (M/Δ M > 150) has been reached. Acknowledgements: This research is supported
by NASA grant NAG5-11782 and by DLR grant 50OO0201.
DE: 2129 Interplanetary dust
DE: 2194 Instruments and techniques
DE: 6015 Dust
DE: 6213 Dust
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005