Disturbance of plasma environment in the vicinity of the Astrid-2 microsatellite

• The presence of a satellite disturbs the ambient plasma. The charging of the spacecraft creates a sheath around it, and the motion of the satellite creates a wake disturbance. This modification of the plasma environment introduces difficulties in measuring electric fields and plasma densities using the probe technique. We present a study of the structure of the sheath and wake around the Astrid-2 microsatellite, as observed by the probes of the EMMA and LINDA instruments, Measurements with biased LINDA probes, as well as current sweeps on the EMMA probes, show a density enhancement upstream of the satellite and a plasma depletion behind the satellite. The electric field probes detect disturbances in the plasma potential on magnetic field lines connected to the satellite.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

space plasma physics

spacecraft sheaths

wakes

charging

instruments and techniques

probe measurements

wake

spacecraft

electron

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