Particle Detectors
SMS
The Solar Wind and Suprathermal Ion Composition Studies (SWICS/MASS/STICS) experiment on WIND comprises three major instruments: Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer (SWICS), High Mass Resolution Spectrometer (MASS), and Suprathermal Ion Composition Spectrometer (STICS). This experiment will determine the abundance, composition and differential energy spectra of solar wind ions, and the composition, charge state and 3-D distribution functions of suprathermal ions. These ions and their abundance fluctuations provide information about events on the solar surface and the formation of the solar wind, complementing the EPACT and 3D-PLASMA investigations. The SMS experiment consists of five separate packages mounted on the spacecraft body. SWICS uses electrostatic deflection, post-acceleration, and a time-of-flight vs. energy measurement to determine the energy and elemental charge state composition of solar wind ions. MASS uses energy/charge analysis followed by a time of flight measurement, to determine solar-wind ion composition with high mass-resolution (M/delta M > 100), for the first time. STICS, similar to SWICS but not using post-acceleration, has a large geometric factor and wide angle viewing for studies of suprathermal ions. For more information, see: http://space.umd.edu/wind/ The SMS data processing unit and STICS analog electronics unit are mounted separately. Group: Instrument_Details Entry_ID: SMS Group: Instrument_Identification Instrument_Category: Solar/Space Observing Instruments Instrument_Class: Particle Detectors Short_Name: SMS Long_Name: SWICS/MASS/STICS Instrument End_Group Group: Instrument_Associated_Sensors Short_Name: MASS Short_Name: STICS Short_Name: SWICS End_Group Group: Associated_Platforms Short_Name: WIND End_Group Group: Spectral_Frequency_Information Wavelength_Keyword: Gamma Ray Number_Channels: 3 Spectral_Frequency_Coverage_Range: 0.5 - 230 kEV End_Group Online_Resource: http://space.umd.edu/wind/ Sample_Image: http://space.umd.edu/wind/position.gif Group: Instrument_Logistics Instrument_Start_Date: 1994-11-01 Instrument_Owner: NASA Instrument_Owner: University of Maryland End_Group End_Group