AN ELECTRONIC DESIGN FOR A GENERATING ELECTRIC FIELD-ION CURRENT METER,
Abstract
The instrument was intended to measure the electrostatic charge history of a ballistic missile throughout its flight. Operation of the system is based on the use of a conducting probe that is alternately exposed to and shielded from an electric field by a motor-driven grounded rotor. The charge induced on the probe develops a voltage that is proportional to the electric field. The original system used a linear response amplifier; it had a limited dynamic range (from a few hundred volts per meter to between 10,000 and 15,000 volts per meter, max), and included no method for separating signals due to collection of ion current from those due to electric field. In the redesign, a dual-channel synchronous demodulator amplifier is used to separate electric field and photoemissive and ion current signals. The field channel uses a logarithmic amplifier that handles 100 to 100,000 v/m. Based on limited test data, the redesigned electronic system is considered suitable for the intended applications. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 14, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0620171
Entities
People
- Gordon D. North
Organizations
- Harry Diamond Laboratories