[P-CG11_28PO1] Instrumentation for space science

[PCG11-P02] Development of Electron Temperature and Density Probe (TeNeP) for Nano- and Micro-satellites -II

*Guo-siang JIANG¹, Wen-hao CHEN¹, Yu-wei HSU¹, Koichiro OYAMA², Chio CHENG² (1.Institute of Space and Plasma Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, 2.Plasma and Space Science Center, National Cheng Kung University)

Keywords:Electron Temperature and Density Probe, nano/micro-satellite, Electron Temperature, Electron Density, electrode surface contamination, satellite/probe area ratio

The nano/micro-satellite becomes popular for the study of near earth environment. To measure the electron temperature (T_e) and electron density (N_e) in the ionosphere, we have developed the Electron Temperature and Density Probe (TeNeP). The TeNeP measures T_e and N_e based on principles of electron temperature probe (ETP) and planar impedance probe (IP). By combining systems of ETP and IP, T_e and N_e can be measured by one single probe. The TeNeP system has advantages not only as being small, light weighted and low power consumption that fulfills the needs of instruments onboard nano/micro-satellites. It also overcomes problems associated with electrode surface contamination and satellite/probe surface area ratio for DC Langmuir probes.