BIFOCAL: A Next-Generation Electron Instrument for Solar Wind Monitoring and High Phase Space Resolution Measurements

Completed TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 4)

Description

We propose to develop the electrostatic optics, front-end electronics, and operational algorithms for a next-generation electron instrument capable of providing both routine monitoring and targeted high-resolution measurements from a single compact sensor. The Bifocal instrument will provide full 3-d synoptic "coarse" measurements of the electron distribution, and will also provide targeted "fine" 1.5x1.5 deg. measurements of *any* portion of the distribution, based on either an external trigger or an internal trigger utilizing the coarse measurements. The result of this work will be a TRL-6 instrument that provides high-quality measurements previously requiring two separate sensors, from a single integrated low-resource instrument. This instrument would be ideal for a solar wind monitoring suite, as called out for the high-priority IMAP mission concept, but would also be suitable for a wide variety of high-priority heliophysics investigations.

Benefits

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.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Detectors and Focal Planes
Program	Heliophysics Technology and Instrument Development for Science (H-TIDeS)
Lead organization	University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Start date	2016-02-01
End date	2019-02-01

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Jasper S Halekas
Craig A Kletzing
Lynn Hudachek
Scott R Bounds

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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