Current projects of SSPT
The research of the SSPT group at IRF can
be divided into three main areas: instrument development, data analysis and
computer modeling.
Instrument development and manufacturing
This is the core activity of the group, and we have been internationally
recognized for our instrumentation achievements, and are determined to maintain
our leading position. We are involved in several planetary missions, where
our contribution is different types of particle detectors. These detectors
measure characteristic properties such as energy, mass and/or distribution
of the particles (electrons, ions or energetic neutral atoms (ENAs)).
Information about instruments that have been delivered is best found
on the "Launced Satellite projects"-page. The list of successful projects
include instruments for the Rosetta, Astrid, Viking and Munin projects as
well as ASPERA-3
which is currently delivering data from MARS EXPRESS.
Current hardware projects are
- ASPERA-4, an analyser of ions and energetic neutral atoms, which
will be part of the scientific payload on Venus Express
- MIPA, a miniature ion precipitation analyser,
part of the SERENA instrument which will be onboard BepiColombo headed for Mercury.
- SARA which will travel onboard Chandrayaan-1 to analyse
neutral atoms emitted from the surface of the Moon.
Scientific data analysis
By analysis of the data returned by our (and others) instruments we adress
the science questions. Also, we study meteors using the EISCAT radar facility. The meteor group is devoted to study meteoroids in interplanetary space
and their interaction with the Earth's atmosphere. The meteoroids are
observed when entering the atmosphere causing a meteor. Tools used are
the EISCAT VHF and tristatic UHF radars, as well as the optical system
ALIS. EISCAT tristatic data is collected at summer/winter solstices and
vernal/autumnal equinoxes. ALIS campaignes are usually run during the
Leonid, Geminid and Quadrantid meteor showers every winter. Up to now,
three cameras have been used simultaneously with different filters but
more cameras and filters are being discussed.
Computer modeling
Computer simulations performed by SSPT are related to the hardware projects,
and to the scientific goals of the program. Some examples are simulations
of ENA emissions at Mercury, Venus, the moon and Mars, solar wind charge exchange
X-ray emissions at Mars, improved algorithms for global hybrid simulations.
Computer simulations are also used to extract as much information as possible
from observations.
Most of the projects are financed by the Swedish National Space Board.
[IRF Home] [SSPT Home]
Last update 29 May 2010
by Shahab Fatemi
IRF press releases |
IRF news |
Coming seminars
- 2010-09-29 10:30 Ingrid Mann, TBD
- 2010-09-30 10:30 Peter Hargrave (Cardiff), TBD
|
Vacancies |
[All news]
