-
A. B. Galvin,
L. M. Kistler,
M. A. Popecki,
C. J. Farrugia,
K. D. C. Simunac,
L. Ellis,
E. Möbius,
M. A. Lee,
M. Boehm,
J. Carroll, [......],
A. Opitz,
M. Sigrist,
P. Wurz,
B. Klecker,
M. Ertl,
E. Seidenschwang,
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber,
M. Koeten,
B. Thompson,
D. Steinfeld
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The Plasma and Suprathermal Ion Composition (PLASTIC) investigation provides the in situ solar wind and low energy heliospheric
ion measurements for the NASA Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory Mission, which consists of two spacecraft (STEREO-A,
STEREO-B). PLASTIC-A and PLASTIC-B are identical. Each PLASTIC is a time-of-flight/energy mass spectrometer designed to determine
the elemental composition, ionic charge states, and bulk flow parameters of major solar wind ions in the mass range from hydrogen
to iron. PLASTIC has nearly complete angular coverage in the ecliptic plane and an energy range from ∼0.3 to 80 keV/e, from
which the distribution functions of suprathermal ions, including those ions created in pick-up and local shock acceleration
processes, are also provided.
Space Science Reviews 04/2012; 136(1):437-486. · 3.61 Impact Factor
-
A. Opitz,
R. Karrer,
P. Wurz,
A. B. Galvin,
P. Bochsler,
L. M. Blush, H. Daoudi,
L. Ellis,
C. J. Farrugia,
C. Giammanco, [......],
B. Klecker,
H. Kucharek,
M. A. Lee,
E. Möbius,
M. Popecki,
M. Sigrist,
K. Simunac,
K. Singer,
B. Thompson,
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The two STEREO spacecraft with nearly identical instrumentation were launched near solar activity minimum and they separate
by about 45° per year, providing a unique tool to study the temporal evolution of the solar wind. We analyze the solar wind
bulk velocity measured by the two PLASTIC plasma instruments onboard the two STEREO spacecraft. During the first half year
of our measurements (March – August 2007) we find the typical alternating slow and fast solar wind stream pattern expected
at solar minimum. To evaluate the temporal evolution of the solar wind bulk velocity we exclude the spatial variations and
calculate the correlation between the solar wind bulk velocity measured by the two spacecraft. We account for the different
spacecraft positions in radial distance and longitude by calculating the corresponding time lag. After adjusting for this
time lag we compare the solar wind bulk velocity measurements at the two spacecraft and calculate the correlation between
the two time-shifted datasets. We show how this correlation decreases as the time difference between two corresponding measurements
increases. As a result, the characteristic temporal changes in the solar wind bulk velocity can be inferred. The obtained
correlation is 0.95 for a time lag of 0.5 days and 0.85 for 2 days.
Solar Physics 04/2012; 256(1):365-377. · 2.78 Impact Factor
-
P Bochsler,
M ~A Lee,
R Karrer,
M ~A Popecki,
A ~B Galvin,
L ~M Kistler,
E Möbius,
C ~J Farrugia,
H Kucharek,
K ~D ~C Simunac,
L ~M Blush, H Daoudi,
P Wurz,
B Klecker,
R ~F Wimmer-Schweingruber,
B Thompson,
J ~G Luhmann,
L ~K Jian,
C ~T Russell,
A Opitz
Twelfth International Solar Wind Conference. 03/2010; 1216:257-260.
-
A Opitz,
· R Karrer,
· P Wurz,
· A B Galvin,
· P Bochsler,
· L M Blush, · H Daoudi,
· L Ellis,
C J Farrugia,
· C Giammanco, [......],
· R Opitz,
· P Karrer,
· L M Bochsler,
· H Blush,
· C Daoudi,
· M Giammanco,
Sigrist,
Nasa / Gsfc,
Usa R F Greenbelt,
Wimmer-Schweingruber
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The two STEREO spacecraft with nearly identical instrumentation were launched near solar activity minimum and they separate by about 45° per year, providing a unique tool to study the temporal evolution of the solar wind. We analyze the solar wind bulk velocity measured by the two PLASTIC plasma instruments onboard the two STEREO spacecraft. During the first half year of our measurements (March – August 2007) we find the typical alternating slow and fast solar wind stream pattern expected at solar minimum. To evaluate the temporal evolution of the solar wind bulk velocity we exclude the spatial variations and calculate the correlation between the solar wind bulk velocity measured by the two space-craft. We account for the different spacecraft positions in radial distance and longitude by calculating the corresponding time lag. After adjusting for this time lag we compare the solar wind bulk velocity measurements at the two spacecraft and calculate the correlation between the two time-shifted datasets. We show how this correlation decreases as the time difference 366 A. Opitz et al. between two corresponding measurements increases. As a result, the characteristic temporal changes in the solar wind bulk velocity can be inferred. The obtained correlation is 0.95 for a time lag of 0.5 days and 0.85 for 2 days.
Solar Phys. 01/2009; 256:365-377.
-
L.M. Blush,
F. Allegrini,
P. Bochsler, H. Daoudi,
A. Galvin,
R. Karrer,
L. Kistler,
B. Klecker,
E. Möbius,
A. Opitz,
M. Popecki,
B. Thompson,
R.F. Wimmer-Schweingruber,
P. Wurz
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The plasma and suprathermal ion composition (PLASTIC) instrument will measure kinetic properties and charge states of solar wind ions and suprathermal ions as part of the solar terrestrial relations observatory (STEREO) mission. Two identical instruments located on separate spacecraft will provide in situ plasma measurements at ∼1 AU to study physical processes low in the corona and in the inner heliosphere. In conjunction with the other in situ and remote sensing instruments of STEREO, as well as existing near-Earth observatories, the PLASTIC instrument measurements will contribute to the understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the heliosphere, with particular focus on Coronal Mass Ejections. As the primary solar wind instrument aboard STEREO, PLASTIC will measure bulk solar wind plasma parameters (density, velocity, temperature, temperature anisotropy, and alpha/proton ratio) and the distribution functions and charge state distributions of major heavy solar wind ions (e.g., C, O, Ne, Mg, Si, Fe). The measurement apparatus includes an electrostatic deflection analyzer for energy per charge measurement (E/q), a time-of-flight section utilizing carbon foils and microchannel plate detectors for time of flight measurement (TOF), and solid-state detectors for energy measurement (E). The instrument will provide a large instantaneous field of view (in-ecliptic and out-of-ecliptic angles distinguished) with measurements taken at high time resolution (1–5 min) spanning an ion energy range of 0.25–87 keV/e. To accommodate a large range of particle fluxes, the PLASTIC Entrance System employs collection apertures with different geometric factors for the bulk solar wind (H ∼ 96%, He ∼ 4%) and for the heavy, less-abundant ions (<1%) and suprathermal ions. This paper focuses on the hardware development of major components for the PLASTIC instrument. The PLASTIC measurement principle is explained along with a presentation of the ion optic calibrations of the flight model Entrance Systems as well as calibrations of the microchannel plates and solid-state detectors.
Advances in Space Research.
-
H. Daoudi,
L. M. Blush,
P. Bochsler,
A. B. Galvin,
C. Giammanco,
R. Karrer,
A. Opitz,
P. Wurz,
C. Farrugia,
L. A. Kistler,
M. A. Popecki,
E. Möbius,
K. Singer,
B. Klecker,
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber,
B. Thompson
Astrophysics and Space Sciences Transactions, v.5, 1-13 (2009).
-
L. M. Blush,
F Allegrini,
P. Bochsler, H. Daoudi,
A. Galvin,
R. Karrer,
L. Kistler,
B. Klecker,
E. Möbius,
A. Opitz,
M. Popecki,
B. Thompson,
R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber,
P. Wurz
Advances in Space Research, v.36, 8, 1544-1556 (2005).
