Variability of Antenna Signals from Dust Impacts Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Antenna instrument carried by spacecraft is complementary to dedicated; dust detectors by registering transient voltage perturbations caused by; impact-generated plasma. The signal waveform contains information about; the interaction between the impact-generated plasma cloud and the; elements of spacecraft – antenna system. Variability of antenna signals; from dust impacts has not yet been systematically characterized. A set; of laboratory measurements are performed to characterize signal; variations in response to spacecraft parameters (bias voltage and; antenna configuration) and impactor parameters (impact speed and; composition). These measurements demonstrate that dipole antenna; configurations are sensitive to impact location because of how the; asymmetric expansion of impact plasma cloud produces different signals; among antennas. This result revises previous conclusions that dipole; antenna configurations should be insensitive to impacts. When dust; impacts occur at low speeds, antenna instruments typically register; smaller amplitudes and less characteristic impact signal shapes. In this; case, impact event identification becomes challenged by low; signal-to-noise ratios and complex waveforms, indicating the compound; nature of non-fully developed impact-generated plasmas. Laboratory; studies of aluminum dust particle hypervelocity impacts were used to; explore the dependence of impact waveform variability on dust; composition. No significant variations were determined compared to; common iron dust measurements, consistent with prior studies.; Additionally, electrostatic model fitting is used to obtain impact; plasma parameters from antenna-detected waveform signals. The recovered; parameters are comparable to those from Fe dust. This suggests a; similarity of fully developed impact plasma cloud behaviors upon; hypervelocity impact.

publication date

  • September 8, 2022

has restriction

  • hybrid

Date in CU Experts

  • September 27, 2022 3:47 AM

Full Author List

  • Shen MM; Sternovsky Z; Malaspina DM

author count

  • 3

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