Download or read book Design of Miniaturized Time-of-Flight ReƠ̐2ectron Mass Spectrometer for Upper Atmosphere Density Measurements written by Michelle Lynn Pyle and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Variations of gas and plasma density and composition in Earth0́9s thermosphere and ionosphere are key indicators of interactions between diƠ̐0erent layers of Earth0́9s atmosphere. The nature of interactions between neutral and ion species in the upper atmosphere is an active area of study in Heliophysics and there is much to learn about the dynamic relationship between the ionosphere and neutral thermosphere. Mass Spectrometers are among an array of instruments used to explore Earth0́9s upper atmosphere and other space environments. In the past, data from mass spectrometers Ơ̐2own in low earth orbit has been used to improve atmospheric models and to study the dynamics of the ionosphere and thermosphere. Historically, these instruments are substantial in size and deployed on larger satellite platforms. Data from these larger instruments generally provide information from a speciƠ̐1c point in time at a single location. Studies of atmospheric density and composition with multiple locations for each time point could be performed by CubeSat swarms if proper instrumentation were available to Ơ̐1t CubeSat payload restrictions. The proposed miniaturized time-of-Ơ̐2ight (TOF) mass spectrometer (M.S.) will have a mass resolution and range suƠ̐3cient for measuring the composition of Earth0́9s thermosphere and ionosphere while operating within the power and space constraints of a CubeSat. The capabilities of this instrument could dramatically reduce the cost of future missions while simultaneously enhancing the science return. The design employs miniaturization of TOF-MS technology, including resolution reƠ̐1nement techniques used for larger instruments and standard concepts for TOF-MS components such as acceleration grids, a Bradbury-Nielsen wire gate, a gridless ion mirror, and microchannel plate detector.