Background
Geospace, the space environment near Earth made up of the upper atmosphere and nearby outer space, contains ionized and neutral components that are separately studied and defined as the ionosphere and thermosphere (IT), respectively. Neutral winds largely drive the dynamics of the region, serving as the primary regulators and redistributors of the mass, momentum and energy and largely determining “space weather.” However, the lack of direct measurements of neutral winds has impeded advancements in both IT and space weather research. The project offers a unique opportunity to test the Neutral Wind Meter (NWM) in an environment that simulates the actual conditions in geospace. The integration of novel sensor technologies and molecular beam testing methodologies via a well-reasoned and innovative strategy will address critical gaps in understanding space weather impacts.
Approach
Figure 1: 3D schematic of the MBF that consists of the expansion chamber (left), the skimmer chamber (middle), and the experiment chamber (right). The MBF will verify and enhance the measurement capabilities of UTD’s NWM.
The overarching goal of this project is to verify sensor performance and demonstrate its technical readiness level, which in turn makes the instrument more likely to be selected for upcoming missions. Researchers from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) collaborate to evaluate a next-generation sensor designed to measure neutral gas velocities in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. We leverage our new Molecular Beam Facility (MBF) to validate and enhance the measurement capabilities of UTD’s NWM, establish development procedures, and significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
Accomplishments
Since the project commenced on July 1, 2024, key achievements include successful introductions of the UTD and SwRI teams, the establishment of a monthly teleconference schedule, the completion of the introduction of the NWM instrument, discussions on the neutral beam capabilities for the MBF, and the recruitment of team members and interns. Furthermore, initial operation and implementation plans for testing the NWM have been established. Notably, neon gas at room temperature produces speeds around 0.75 km/s, which can significantly increase at higher temperatures, with beam size modified by adjusting the nozzle-skimmer distance. Preliminary tests indicate that mixed gases generate higher seed gas densities in the center of the beam and the chopper system (velocity filter) may provide continuous velocity measurements for the velocity range outside the specified velocity.