Design and Performance of the ICON EUV Spectrograph

Area of Science:

• Space physics
• Atmospheric science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• The ionosphere plays a crucial role in space weather and radio communication.
• Observing the lower ionosphere requires specialized instrumentation capable of detecting specific emission lines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the design, implementation, and performance of the ICON EUV spectrometer.
• To validate the instrument's capability to observe key ionospheric emission lines.

Main Methods:

• Design and construction of a wide-field extreme ultraviolet (EUV) imaging spectrograph.
• On-ground performance measurements and pre-flight calibration.
• Targeting Oxygen (O I) emission lines at 61.6 nm and 83.4 nm.

Main Results:

• The ICON EUV spectrometer features a single optical element design with a 17° x 12° field of view.
• Achieved imaging resolution of 0.26° and spectral resolution of R ~ 25 at 58.4 nm.
• Pre-flight calibration confirmed the instrument meets all science performance requirements.

Conclusions:

• The ICON EUV spectrometer is a validated instrument for observing the lower ionosphere.
• The instrument is ready for deployment to gather crucial data on ionospheric processes.
• Successful design and calibration pave the way for future ionospheric research.