DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN ELECTRON-PROTON SPECTROMETER.
Abstract
A dual-purpose omnidirectional spectrometer for measurement of integral spectra of electrons and protons in the Van Allen belts has been constructed and tested at the Nuclear Aerospace Research Facility. Five shielded semiconductor detectors are used for electron-flux measurements above thresholds of 0.1, 0.4, 1.2, 2.2, and 4.4 Mev. Five other shielded detectors serve for measurement of proton flux in broadly defined intervals of 15 to 35 Mev, 31 to 50 Mev, 56 to 70 Mev, 106 to 115 Mev, and above a 100-Mev threshold. Amplifiers, discriminators, and count-rate meters are time-shared by the two sets of detectors in order to minimize power consumption and weight. Special pulse generators provide calibration signals upon command. Dual-range logarithmic count-rate meters provide 0- to 5-volt signals for telemetry. The complete instrument weighs about 7.8 lb and consumes slightly more than 1.5 watts. Results of design studies of a directional electron spectrometer and a dual-purpose photon-alpha-particle spectrometer are reported. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0489012
Entities
People
- B. S. Burton
Organizations
- General Dynamics