Search

Measurements of the effect of long duration UV irradiation (up to 2905 min) of flight quality diamondlike carbon charge state conversion surfaces for application in space research in the presence of a hydrocarbon atmosphere were done. An isopropanol atmosphere was used for simulating the hydrocarbon gaseous environment for an instrument on a satellite in space. Charge state conversion surfaces are used in neutral particle sensing instruments where neutral atoms have to be ionized prior to the analysis. A narrow-band (126±5 nm) discharge lamp and a broad-band deuterium lamp (112-370 nm) were used as sources of UV radiation. The UV irradiation of a surface results in the desorption of some volatiles present on the surface and the decomposition of others. Desorption of volatiles, mostly water, is observed for both UV sources. The decomposition of the hydrocarbons and the subsequent build-up of a hydrocarbonaceous layer is only observed for the broad-band UV lamp, which is more representative for the space environment. Unfortunately, the hydrocarbonaceous layer cannot be removed thermally, i.e., it is permanent, and causes a degradation of the performance of the charge state conversion surfaces. With the present measurements we can quantify the UV influence at which the degradation of the conversion surfaces becomes noticeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular oxygen and hydrogen ions were scattered off hydrogen terminated diamondlike carbon (DLC) charge state conversion surfaces at incident grazing angles. The energy range of the scattered particles was 390–1000 eV, and the surface roughness of the DLC surface was of the order of 1 Å rms. For all surfaces almost equal angular scattering and negative ion fractions were found within the uncertainties of the measurement. This result supports the fact that charge state conversion with DLC surfaces is a reliable technology for neutral particle sensing instruments. Furthermore, these instruments can work in the laboratory as well as in the harsh environment on board a satellite.The surfaces measured here are used in the IBEX-lo sensor, a neutral particle sensing instrument on the NASA IBEX mission, which is scheduled for launch into orbit around Earth in July 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Imager for Low Energetic Neutral Atoms test facility at the University of Bern was developed to investigate, characterize, and quantify physical processes on surfaces that are used to ionize neutral atoms before their analysis in neutral particle-sensing instruments designed for space research. The facility has contributed valuable knowledge of the interaction of ions with surfaces (e.g., fraction of ions scattered from surfaces and angular scattering distribution) and employs a novel measurement principle for the determination of secondary electron emission yields as a function of energy, angle of incidence, particle species, and sample surface for low particle energies. Only because of this test facility it was possible to successfully apply surface-science processes for the new detection technique for low-energetic neutral particles with energies below about 1 keV used in space applications. All successfully flown spectrometers for the detection of low-energetic neutrals based on the particle-surface interaction process use surfaces evalu-ated, tested, and calibrated in this facility. Many instruments placed on different spacecraft (e.g., Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration, Chandrayaan-1, Interstellar Boundary Explorer, etc.) have success-fully used this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Molecular oxygen and hydrogen ions were scattered at grazing incidence from various thin Al2O3 films. The energy of incident particles was varied from 390 to 1000eV. For scattered positive oxygen ions, negative ion fractions of up to 17% were recorded. For scattered positive hydrogen ions, the negative ion fractions reached up to 2%. These findings qualify thin films of Al2O3 as possible candidates for use as charge state conversion surfaces in neutral particle sensing instruments, which will work in space. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Various light ions were scattered at grazing incidence from a highly polished Al2O3 single crystal and from a thin film of Al2O3 on graphite. The energy of incident particles was varied from 390eV to 1200eV. For scattered positive oxygen and carbon ions, negative ion fractions of up to 14% and 3%, respectively, were recorded. For scattered positive hydrogen ions, the negative ion fractions reached the percent level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]