Calorimetric energy detector for space debris
- Paper number
IAC-06-B6.3.09
- Author
Dr. Michael Kobusch, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Frank Jäger, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Karl Dietrich Bunte, eta_max Space GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Torsten Fichna, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Ernst Keßler, Germany
- Year
2006
- Abstract
This paper presents a new type of in-situ space debris detector which measures the impact energy of micron-sized particles by an array of miniaturized calorimeters. This detector concept was developed within the scope of an international assessment study released by ESA/ESTEC in order to review and improve in-situ measurement techniques, especially for the particle environment of the Earth.
The energy measurement is based on the fact that a substantial part of the particle’s kinetic energy is converted into heat when hitting the target matter. A sensitive thermopile sensor measures the temperature increase of the heated energy absorber. In order to achieve high sensitivity, the detector model uses a 16x16 array of small calorimeters. The array design is based on a customised thermopile array (IPHT Jena) which is thermally contacted to an absorber array of matching geometry. The absorber array consists of edge-connected metal plates (thickness several micrometers) which were produced by laser cutting. The data acquisition unit of the breadboard model monitors 128 dual elements at a sampling rate of 75 Hz.
The characteristics of the calorimetric energy detector was investigated by hyper-velocity impact (HVI) tests with iron particles (diameter range 0.4 microns to 3 microns, velocity range 1.3 km/s to 10 km/s) at the dust accelerator at MPI-K in Heidelberg. The energy detector is capable to detect particle impacts down to about 30 nJ kinetic energy. The efficiency of the energy conversion (kinetic energy to heat) was determined to be about 50
Sensitivity and energy range of the calorimetric detector depend on the thickness of the absorber plates. Therefore, this detector can be adapted to the specific needs of a particular space mission. Furthermore, the detection principle is not sensitive to the harsh space environment in Earth orbit.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-B6.3.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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