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Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP)

NSSDC ID: 1977-084A-07
Mission Name: Voyager 1
Principal Investigator: Dr. Stamatios M. Krimigis

Description

This experiment was designed to study energetic particles in both planetary and interplanetary environments. In the planetary mode, particle sensing occurred with six different solid-state, totally depleted, surface-barrier type detectors. Both coincidence and singles count data were available from two of the detectors. By looking out at a shallow angle from behind the sun shield, measurements were made in regions where particle fluxes were so high as to saturate low-energy detectors. A current mode option was also available for high flux environments. In the interplanetary mode the experiment was equipped with a particle telescope which had solid-state detectors ranging from 2-2450 micrometers in thickness. The telescope consisted of two multi-dE/dx x E systems placed back to back in order to use a common all solid-state active anticoincidence shield. The telescope allowed the identification of protons, alpha particles, and heavier nuclei (Z from 3 to 26) in the range from 0.05 to 30 MeV. The combined dynamic range of all the instruments extended from approximately 1.E-5 to greater than 1.E12 particles/(sq cm-s-sr). The energy range covered extended from approximately 10 keV to greater than 11 MeV for electrons and from approximately 15 keV to greater than or equal to 150 MeV for protons and heavier ions. A stepping motor rotated the array of detectors through eight discrete sectors in 45-deg increments, thus allowing a 360-deg scan. For a description of the experiment see Space Science Reviews, 1977, v. 21, pp. 329-354.

Facts in Brief

Mass: 7.5 kg
Power (avg): 3.8 W

Funding Agency

  • NASA-Office of Space Science (United States)

Disciplines

  • Planetary Science: Fields and Particles
  • Space Physics: Heliospheric Studies

Additional Information

Questions or comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. Edwin V. Bell, II.

 

Personnel

Name Role Original Affiliation E-mail
Dr. Stamatios M. Krimigis Principal Investigator Applied Physics Laboratory tom.krimigis@jhuapl.edu
Dr. Louis J. Lanzerotti Co-Investigator AT&T Bell Laboratories ljl@bell-labs.com
Dr. Charles Y. Fan Co-Investigator University of Arizona  
Dr. William Ian Axford Co-Investigator Victoria University of Wellington axford@linmpi.mpg.de
Dr. Thomas P. Armstrong Co-Investigator University of Kansas armstrong@ftecs.com
Prof. George Gloeckler Co-Investigator University of Maryland gg10@umail.umd.edu
Dr. Carl O. Bostrom Co-Investigator Applied Physics Laboratory  
Dr. Edwin P. Keath Co-Investigator Applied Physics Laboratory  

Selected References

Krimigis, S. M., et al., The low energy charged particle (LECP) experiment on the Voyager spacecraft, Space Sci. Rev., 21, No. 3, 329-354, Dec. 1977.

Krimigis, S. M., et al., Characteristics of the hot plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere: Results from the Voyager spacecraft, J. Geophys. Res., 86, No. A10, 8227-8258, Sept. 1981.

Armstrong, T. P., et al., Low-energy charged particle observations in the 5-20 RJ region of the Jovian magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 86, No. A10, 8343-8356, Sept. 1981.

Zwickl, R. D., et al., Energetic particle events greater than or equal to 30 keV of Jovian origin observed by Voyager 1 and 2 in interplanetary space, J. Geophys. Res., 86, No. A10, 8125-8140, Sept. 1981.

Krimigis, S. M., et al., General characteristics of hot plasma and energetic particles in the Saturnian magnetosphere: Results from the Voyager spacecraft, J. Geophys. Res., 88, No. A11, 8871-8892, Nov. 1983.

Armstrong, T. P., et al., Voyager observations of Saturnian ion and electron phase space densities, J. Geophys. Res., 88, No. A11, 8893-8904, Nov. 1983.

Krimigis, S. M., and E. C. Roelof, Low-energy particle population, In--Physics of the Jovian Magnetosphere, edited by A. J. Dessler, pp. 106--156, Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge, UK, 1983.

Image of the Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP) instrumentation

Low-Energy Charged Particles (LECP)

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