Antenna design considerations for the Radio and Plasma Wave (RPW) experiment on solar orbiter

• Electric fields in the solar wind are very poorly studied; there have been no instruments dedicated to measuring solar wind electric fields and plasma waves at low frequencies. Here we discuss some of the important physics of LF electric fields, including dissipation of MHD turbulence, shock acceleration of particles, and solar wind magnetic reconnection. We then present some antenna sensor and instrument designs that will potentially satisfy the goal of measuring both DC/low frequency electric fields AND higher frequency radio and thermal noise emissions. We discuss trades between science goals and complexity of the designs.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Fusion, plasma och rymdfysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Electric field effects

Orbits

Plasma waves

Product design

Radio waves

Solar wind

Thermal noise

Turbulence

Antenna design

Higher frequency radio

MHD turbulence

Shock acceleration

Thermal noise emissions

Solar system

Space physics

Rymdfysik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)