Physical Sciences Inc. Publications Abstract: Scintillator-based Low-Energy Imaging Particle Spectrometer

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Abstract: Scintillator-based Low-Energy Imaging Particle Spectrometer

G.E. Galica, R.L. Coxe, R.G. Chaves, H.E. Spence, B.K. Dichter, D.L. Cooke, G. Ginet, "Scintillator-based Low-Energy Imaging Particle Spectrometer ," presented at JAXA 9th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference (Tsukuba, Japan) , (4-8 April2005).

Abstract

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in cooperation with the Boston University Center for Space Physics, and under the sponsorship of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicle Directorate, has developed and tested a lightweight, multi-configuration sensor to monitor the space weather environment. The scintillator-based, Low-Energy Imaging Particle Spectrometer (LIPS) is ideally suited to monitoring the lower energy (20 to 2000 keV) charged particle environment responsible for deep dielectric charging. The LIPS design is also compatible with the weight, volume, and power requirements of small satellites (‹1 kg, (‹2 W). The LIPS design does not rely upon a magnetic sector to discriminate between particle types; rather it takes advantage of particle cross-section characteristics and scintillator properties to discriminate. We have previously reported on the feasibility demonstration of our approach; i.e., using thin films of materials to create particle-specific detectors, coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube. We have since developed a fully-functional and calibrated engineering model of LIPS. We are currently preparing LIPS for flight validation as part of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Weather Experiment (SWx) that will fly as part of the Cygnus flight demonstration program. Herein we report on the engineering model development and calibration of LIPS.

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