Laboratory investigation into electric field sensor instabilities: Calibration and testing

Area of Science:

• Space Physics
• Plasma Physics
• Instrument Development

Background:

• Accurate electric field measurements are crucial for understanding space physics, especially at kinetic scales.
• Current voltage probes can perturb space plasma, leading to anomalous readings without clear geophysical explanations.
• Understanding probe-plasma interactions is essential for reliable electric field data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a procedure for isolating impedance sources in voltage probes.
• To investigate the interaction between a physical voltage probe model and a controlled plasma.
• To improve the accuracy of electric field measurements in space.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a space physics simulation chamber at the Naval Research Laboratory.
• Developed a procedure to isolate impedance sources between voltage probe components and plasma.
• Conducted tests on a physical voltage probe model with a controlled plasma population.

Main Results:

• Observed interactions between the voltage probe model and the plasma.
• The developed calibration method successfully returned impedance values comparable to direct measurements.
• Identified the need for adjustments in model design and plasma parameter measurement for future tests.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates a viable method for analyzing voltage probe impedance in a controlled plasma environment.
• Initial results validate the approach, showing observed plasma interactions and accurate impedance calibration.
• Further refinements in experimental setup and measurements will enhance the understanding of probe-plasma dynamics for improved space physics instruments.