A high geometric factor, 3D-Cylindrical And Tiny Spectrometer for fast plasma measurements on future missions (3D-CATS)

All-sky, space plasma measurements are critical to understanding physical processes related to the solar wind and its interaction with the Earth's and planetary magnetospheres. We propose to develop a prototype of a low SWaP, "fast", electrostatic analyzer, the 3D Cylindrical And Tiny Spectrometer (3D-CATS). 3D-CATS will provide ion or electron velocity distribution functions (VDFs) covering a large fraction of the sky at 30ms time resolutions, determining bulk plasma moments with accuracies comparable to current state-of-the-art space plasma sensors (like the FPI sensor on MMS), but at a fraction of the SWaP (<5kg, 2.5W). The instrument uses several concentric cylinders to achieve simultaneous multiple energy sampling. The concept has been demonstrated through previous published work (Bedington, Kataria, Smith, 2015) and Southwest Research Institute has recently invested in the simulation of a proof-of-concept 3D-CATS providing instantaneous 3-D sampling. The design provides measurements of particles over an energy per charge range of 5 eV/q to >46 keV/q with simultaneous measurement of 8 energies and an instantaneous angular field of view of 90-360° x ± 45°. Two such sensors placed orthogonal to each other would provide instantaneous, full-sky 3D measurements in 30 ms ( 40 Hz). 3D-CATS answers two fundamental science questions: SQ1: How does magnetic reconnection contribute to particle heating and acceleration at Earth's bow shock? SQ2: What are shock and plasma conditions that result in small-scale magnetic reconnection occurring near Earth's bow shock? 3D-CATS is currently at TRL 3. Through this project, the technology level of 3D-CATS will be raised from TRL 3 to TRL 5+. To achieve this, we propose to build a prototype instrument front-end, consisting of the electrostatic analyzer (ESA) optics and the detection system. Following a modular approach, the analyzer and the detection subsystems will be developed and tested at individual subsystem level. Subsequently, the two modules will then be integrated, tested and validated against simulations. The project is divided into three objectives. In the first two objectives, the two subsystems of the prototype sensor are completed and built: the ESA subsystem (Objective 1) and the detector subsystem (Objective 2). Further, in Objective 3, we calibrate and validate the performance of the full 3D-CATS laboratory prototype in a relevant environment through ion and electron test. In Year 1, we carry out optimization of the instrument performance, through detailed charged particle optics (CPO) simulations of the prototype and through mechanical design iterations, to ensure the design meets science goals. In Year 2, we build, test, and characterize the optics and detector modules at subsystem level. At the end of Year 2, Objectives 1 and 2 will have been completed. In Year 3, we integrate the two subsystems and carry out detailed testing, both for primary (validating the simulated instrument parameters) and secondary performance (UV background evaluation, low energy secondary electron contamination), completing Objective 3 by the end of Year 3. Besides the capability to make fast temporal resolution measurements, a low SWaP sensor like 3D-CATS is very attractive for many future geophysics missions, including for nanosatellite and multi-satellite platforms. Several white papers submitted to the Heliophysics Decadal Survey call for low SWaP instruments for constellation missions (refs). Such instruments are also attractive for space weather, providing enhanced measurements while providing considerable scope for redundancy.

Support NASA's Heliophysics strategic science objectives to understand the Sun and its interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. This will be achieved by developing/demonstrating instrumentation technology necessary to address the following science goals: Explore the physical processes in the space environment from the Sun to the Earth and throughout the solar system; Advance our understanding of the connections that link the Sun, the Earth, planetary space environments, and the outer reaches of our solar system; Develop the knowledge and capability to detect and predict extreme conditions in space to protect life and society and to safeguard human and robotic explorers beyond Earth.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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