TY - JOUR
T1 - The Plasma Wave Investigation (PWI) onboard the BepiColombo/MMO
T2 - First measurement of electric fields, electromagnetic waves, and radio waves around Mercury
AU - Kasaba, Y.
AU - Bougeret, J. L.
AU - Blomberg, L. G.
AU - Kojima, H.
AU - Yagitani, S.
AU - Moncuquet, M.
AU - Trotignon, J. G.
AU - Chanteur, G.
AU - Kumamoto, A.
AU - Kasahara, Y.
AU - Lichtenberger, J.
AU - Omura, Y.
AU - Ishisaka, K.
AU - Matsumoto, H.
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - The BepiColombo Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) spacecraft includes the plasma and radio wave observation system called Plasma Wave Investigation (PWI). Since the receivers for electric field, plasma waves, and radio waves are not installed in any of the preceding spacecraft to Mercury, the PWI will provide the first opportunity for conducting in-situ and remote-sensing observations of electric fields, plasma waves, and radio waves in the Hermean magnetosphere and exosphere. These observations are valuable in studying structure, dynamics, and energy exchange processes in the unique magnetosphere of Mercury. They are characterized by the key words of the non-MHD environment and the peculiar interaction between the relatively large planet without ionosphere and the solar wind with high dynamic pressure. The PWI consists of three sets of receivers (EWO, SORBET, and AM2P), connected to two sets of electric field sensors (MEFISTO and WPT) and two kinds of magnetic field sensors (LF-SC and DB-SC). The PWI will observe both waveforms and frequency spectra in the frequency range from DC to 10 MHz for the electric field and from 0.3 Hz to 640 kHz for the magnetic field. From 2008, we will start the development of the engineering model, which is conceptually consistent with the flight model design. The present paper discusses the significance and objectives of plasma/radio wave observations in the Hermean magnetosphere, and describes the PWI sensors, receivers and their performance as well as the onboard data processing.
AB - The BepiColombo Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) spacecraft includes the plasma and radio wave observation system called Plasma Wave Investigation (PWI). Since the receivers for electric field, plasma waves, and radio waves are not installed in any of the preceding spacecraft to Mercury, the PWI will provide the first opportunity for conducting in-situ and remote-sensing observations of electric fields, plasma waves, and radio waves in the Hermean magnetosphere and exosphere. These observations are valuable in studying structure, dynamics, and energy exchange processes in the unique magnetosphere of Mercury. They are characterized by the key words of the non-MHD environment and the peculiar interaction between the relatively large planet without ionosphere and the solar wind with high dynamic pressure. The PWI consists of three sets of receivers (EWO, SORBET, and AM2P), connected to two sets of electric field sensors (MEFISTO and WPT) and two kinds of magnetic field sensors (LF-SC and DB-SC). The PWI will observe both waveforms and frequency spectra in the frequency range from DC to 10 MHz for the electric field and from 0.3 Hz to 640 kHz for the magnetic field. From 2008, we will start the development of the engineering model, which is conceptually consistent with the flight model design. The present paper discusses the significance and objectives of plasma/radio wave observations in the Hermean magnetosphere, and describes the PWI sensors, receivers and their performance as well as the onboard data processing.
KW - Electric field
KW - Electron density and temperature
KW - Magnetosphere
KW - Mercury
KW - Plasma wave
KW - Radio wave
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U2 - 10.1016/j.pss.2008.07.017
DO - 10.1016/j.pss.2008.07.017
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:74149089623
SN - 0032-0633
VL - 58
SP - 238
EP - 278
JO - Planetary and Space Science
JF - Planetary and Space Science
IS - 1-2
ER -