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The Solar Probe ANalyzer-Ions on the Parker Solar Probe
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The Solar Probe ANalyzer-Ions on the Parker Solar Probe

Roberto Livi, Davin E. Larson, Justin C. Kasper, Robert Abiad, A. W. Case, Kristopher G. Klein, David W. Curtis, Gregory Dalton, Michael Stevens, Kelly E. Korreck, …
The Astrophysical journal, Vol.938(2), p.138
10/01/2022
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac93f5
url
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac93f5View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The Solar Probe ANalyzer for Ions (SPAN-I) onboard NASA's Parker Solar Probe spacecraft is an electrostatic analyzer with time-of-flight capabilities that measures the ion composition and three-dimensional distribution function of the thermal corona and solar-wind plasma. SPAN-I measures the energy per charge of ions in the solar wind from 2 eV to 30 keV with a field of view of 247.degrees 5 x 120 degrees while simultaneously separating H+ from He++ to develop 3D velocity distribution functions of individual ion species. These observations, combined with reduced distribution functions measured by the Sun-pointed Solar Probe Cup, will help us further our understanding of the solar-wind acceleration and formation, the heating of the corona, and the acceleration of particles in the inner heliosphere. This paper describes the instrument hardware, including several innovative improvements over previous time-of-flight sensors, the data products generated by the experiment, and the ground calibrations of the sensor.
Astronomy & Astrophysics Physical Sciences Science & Technology

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