Importance of energy and angular resolutions in top-hat electrostatic analysers for solar wind proton measurements
Journal
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
•
•
BRUNO, Roberto
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D'AMICIS, RAFFAELLA
•
Servidio, S.
•
Valentini, F.
•
Lavraud, B.
•
Louarn, P.
•
Salatti, M.
Abstract
We use a numerical code which reproduces the angular/energy response of a typical top-hat electrostatic analyser starting from solar wind proton velocity distribution functions (VDFs) generated by numerical simulations. The simulations are based on the Hybrid Vlasov-Maxwell numerical algorithm which integrates the Vlasov equation for the ion distribution function, while the electrons are treated as a fluid. A virtual satellite launched through the simulation box measures the particle VDFs. Such VDFs are moved from the simulation Cartesian grid to energy-angular coordinates to mimic the response of a real sensor in the solar wind. Different energy-angular resolutions of the analyser are investigated in order to understand the influence of the phase-space resolution in existing and upcoming space missions, with regards to determining the key parameters of plasma dynamics.
Volume
11
Issue
8
Start page
C08010
Issn Identifier
1748-0221
Ads BibCode
2016JInst..11C8010D
Rights
open.access