A highly miniaturized electron and ion energy spectrometer prototype for the rapid analysis of space plasmas

MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) plasma analyzers are a promising possibility for future space missions but conventional instrument designs are not necessarily well suited to micro-fabrication. Here, a candidate design for a MEMS-based instrument has been prototyped using electron-discharge m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of scientific instruments 2014-02, Vol.85 (2), p.023305-023305
Main Authors: Bedington, R., Kataria, D. O., Smith, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analyzers
CALIBRATION
CATIONS
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
DESIGN
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMECHANICS
Electrons
ELECTROSTATIC ANALYZERS
FABRICATION
INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MACHINING
Mechanical systems
MICROSTRUCTURE
PLASMA
Positive ions
Scientific apparatus & instruments
Space missions
Space plasmas
SPECTROMETERS
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Summary:MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) plasma analyzers are a promising possibility for future space missions but conventional instrument designs are not necessarily well suited to micro-fabrication. Here, a candidate design for a MEMS-based instrument has been prototyped using electron-discharge machining. The device features 10 electrostatic analyzers that, with a single voltage applied to it, allow five different energies of electron and five different energies of positive ion to be simultaneously sampled. It has been simulated using SIMION and the electron response characteristics tested in an instrument calibration chamber. Small deviations found in the electrode spacing of the as-built prototype were found to have some effect on the electron response characteristics but do not significantly impede its performance.
ISSN:0034-6748
1089-7623
DOI:10.1063/1.4865842