학술논문

The Electron Drift Instrument for MMS
Document Type
Review Paper
Source
Space Science Reviews. March 2016 199(1-4):283-305
Subject
Magnetospheric Multiscale
Reconnection
Magnetospheric physics
Language
English
ISSN
0038-6308
1572-9672
Abstract
The Electron Drift Instrument (EDI) on the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission measures the in-situ electric and magnetic fields using the drift of a weak beam of test electrons that, when emitted in certain directions, return to the spacecraft after one or more gyrations. This drift is related to the electric field and, to a lesser extent, the gradient in the magnetic field. Although these two quantities can be determined separately by use of different electron energies, for MMS regions of interest the magnetic field gradient contribution is negligible. As a by-product of the drift determination, the magnetic field strength and constraints on its direction are also determined. The present paper describes the scientific objectives, the experimental method, and the technical realization of the various elements of the instrument on MMS.