Technology Advancements Enabling FPI v2.0 (FPIv2.0)

Completed TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 5)

Description

Goddard Flight Center's Code 673 built the MMS Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) providing unprecedented quality and temporal resolution for electron and ion measurements in the Earth’s environment. We plan to retain our leadership in this area by advancing components of the current detector system for the benefit of future Heliophysics projects.

The MMS FPI team proposes an instrument concept maturation project to develop the next generation of Heliophysics space plasma particle detectors with the goal of resolving the differential directional flux of electrons and ions in 128 energy bins between 1eV to 35keV, 32 instantaneous angle bins covering a 180^OFOV, quantifiable deflections at the extremes of the energy sweeps, and 1-4ms temporal resolution. Characteristics of the system identified for advancement are:

Optimization of the detector system, including:
- eliminate spatial dependence of microchannel plate (MCP) gain
- full characterization of dynamic and static MCP saturation
- reduction of anode crosstalk
- reduction of internal photoelectron susceptibility
Increased geometric factor
Options for refining/eliminating fast stepping power supply
Options for ion composition determination

Benefits

Plasma particle detectors are an indispensable instrument on most Heliophysics and Planetary space missions. This project will enable faster measurements of charged particles in space thereby increasing the spatial and temporal resolution of the environmental conditions around Earth and other planetary bodies.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > In Situ Instruments and Sensors > Field and Particle Detectors
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2016-10-01
End date	2018-09-01

Project contacts

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

Nikolaos Paschalidis — nikolaos.paschalidis@nasa.gov
Daniel J Gershman — daniel.j.gershman@nasa.gov
Alexander C Barrie — alexander.c.barrie@nasa.gov
Barbara L Giles — barbara.l.giles@nasa.gov
Daniel J Gershman — daniel.j.gershman@nasa.gov
Dennis J Chornay — dennis.j.chornay@nasa.gov
Levon A Avanov — levon.a.avanov@nasa.gov
Robert G Michell — robert.g.michell@nasa.gov

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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.