Tiny plasma wave instruments opening science with high spatial resolutions in space

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23244097
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Space and upper atmospheric physics
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: KOJIMA Hirotsugu 京都大学, 生存圏研究所, 准教授 (10215254)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): USUI Hideyuki 神戸大学, システム情報科学研究科, 教授 (10243081) ; YAGITANI Satoshi 金沢大学, 電子情報学系, 教授 (30251937)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: プラズマ波動 / 無衝突プラズマ / ASIC / 小型プラズマ波動観測器 / チップ化 / センサープローブ / 波動粒子相互作用 / 電磁界センサー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We miniaturized a plasma wave receiver system onboard a spacecraft. The objective of the miniaturization is to realize plasma wave observations with high spatial resolutions. By miniaturizing the plasma wave receiver system, we can distribute a lot of plasma wave receivers in a target area. The miniaturization of the plasma wave receiver is realized by designing and developing an analog ASIC chip. The conventional plasma wave receiver consists of commercial discrete devices. However, the ASIC is the special device, which is dedicated only to plasma wave receivers. By using the ASIC of the plasma wave receiver, we developed the smallest plasma wave receiver in the world. Furthermore, we also succeeded in developing a small sensor probe using the ASIC of the plasma wave receiver. The sensor probe carries a electric field sensor made of the CFRP, a small communication wireless device as well as the ASIC. The sensor probe has the capabity to realize multiple point observations in space.

Free Research Field

宇宙科学