HR: 0800h
AN: SA31A-0352    [Abstracts]
TI: Ion Drift and Electric Field Measurement Capabilities of the Canadian Suprathermal Ion Imager
AU: * Knudsen, D J
EM: knudsen@phys.ucalgary.ca
AF: University of Calgary, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N1N4 Canada
AU: Burchill, J K
EM: burchill@lepefi.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 612.3, Greenbelt, MD 20770 United States
AU: Sangalli, L
EM: sangalli@phys.ucalgary.ca
AF: University of Calgary, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N1N4 Canada
AU: Luehr, H
EM: hluehr@gfz-potsdam.de
AF: GeoForschungs Zentrum, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, D-14473 Germany
AB: The Suprathermal Ion Imager (SII) is a hemispherical electrostatic analyzer capable of producing images of 2-D cuts through low-energy (0-20 eV, typically) ion distribution functions. Distributions can then be reduced to produce estimates of ion drift, temperature, density, and anisotropies. We present past and planned precision measurements of ion drift. Measurements from the Cusp2002 and JOULE sounding rocket missions show the SII's ability to resolve ion drifts of order 10 m/s, including low-altitude ion outflows seen in the dayside cusp ionosphere, and upwelling ions seen between 120-150 km altitude inside an auroral arc in the midnight sector. A modified version of the SII is being developed for the ESA Swarm mission, consisting of three, three-axis stabilized satellite payloads optimized for precise measurements of magnetic and electric fields. The SII-based Canadian Electric Field Instrument will measure the 3-D ion drift with 1-sigma resolution and accuracy of 5 and 50 m/s, respectively. The corresponding resolution and accuracy are 0.3 and 3 m/s for electric fields. Electric and magnetic field measurements combined will produce estimates of Poynting flux to a resolution of 1 μW/m², making Swarm an unprecedented tool for M-T-I coupling studies. The three Swarm satellites will have nearly polar, circular orbits between 300-530 km during a four-year mission beginning in 2009.
DE: 0358 Thermosphere: energy deposition (3369)
DE: 2411 Electric fields (2712)
DE: 2494 Instruments and techniques
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005