Laboratory calibration measurements of a piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate cosmic dust detector at low velocities

• Published in: Advances in space research 2009-03, Vol.43 (6), p.905-909
• Main Authors: Takechi, S., Nogami, K., Miyachi, T., Fujii, M., Hasebe, N., Iwai, T., Sasaki, S., Ohashi, H., Shibata, H., Grün, E., Srama, R., Okada, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy; BepiColombo mission; Cosmic dust; Dust detector; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Lead zirconate titanate (PZT); Mercury Dust Monitor (MDM); Piezoelectricity
• ISSN: 0273-1177; 1879-1948
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2008.12.006

A cosmic dust monitor for use onboard a spacecraft is currently being developed using a piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate element (PZT). Its characteristics of the PZT sensor is studied by ground-based laboratory impact experiments using hypervelocity particles supplied by a Van de Graaff accelerator. The output signals obtained from the sensor just after the impact appeared to have a waveform that was explicitly related to the particle’s impact velocity. For velocities less than ∼6 km/s, the signal showed an oscillation pattern and the amplitude was proportional to the momentum of the impacting particle. For higher velocities, the signal gradually changed to a single waveform. The rise time of this single waveform was proportional to the particle’s velocity for velocities above ∼6 km/s. The present paper reports on results for the low velocity case and especially discusses the effect of an outer coating of the sensor with a paint, which is used to reduce heating by solar radiation.