Program

Oral Sessions

Day 3, May 17（Thu.）　14:25-15:05　Room C (Seiun 2)

3C-O2-M-1425　　PDF

Isotope mass spectrometry in the solar system exploration

(Osaka Univ.)
^oShoichiro Yokota

Space-borne ion (and electron) instruments had been initially developed for the space plasma physics. Design details of the instruments were optimized for measuring space plasma populations that belong to the solar wind, and terrestrial and planetary plasma environment. Since it was found that magnetospheric plasma contained large admixture of heavy ions that are critical to many magnetospheric processes, ion composition measurements have been also an object of great interest and have been improved tremendously in recent years. Time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyses for space use had frequently been applied and then further advanced mainly for observing highly energetic particles. In recent years, the techniques of the planetary landers and rovers have considerably advanced, and thus other types of mass spectrometers were selected for measuring isotopes as well as masses. In this presentation, space-borne mass spectrometers for space plasma and planetary science, instrumentations, and observation results will be reviewed. Recent and future isotope mass analyzers and planetary missions will be also introduced.