EDI electron time-of-flight measurements on Equator-S

[摘要] We present the first electron time-of-flightmeasurements obtained with the Electron Drift Instrument (EDI) on Equator-S.These measurements are made possible by amplitude-modulation and coding of theemitted electron beams and correlation with the signal from the returningelectrons. The purpose of the time-of-flight measurements is twofold. First,they provide the drift velocity, and thus the electric field, when the distancethe electrons drift in a gyro period becomes sufficiently large. Second, theyprovide the gyro time of the electrons emitted by the instrument, and thus themagnitude of the ambient magnetic field, allowing in-flight calibration of theflux-gate magnetometer with high precision. Results of both applications arediscussed.

Key words. Magnetospheric physics (electric fields;plasma convection; instruments and techniques)

[学科分类] 地球科学(综合)