Low-Energy
Charged Particle Detector---"LECP"
The
LECP looks for particles of higher energy than the PLS,
and it overlaps with the Cosmic Ray Subsystem (CRS). It
has the broadest energy range of the three sets of particle
sensors.
The
LECP can be imagined as a piece of wood, with the particles
of interest playing the role of bullets. The faster a bullet
moves, the deeper it will penetrate the wood. Thus, the
depth of penetration measures the speed of the particles.
The number of "bullet holes" over time indicates how many
particles there are in various places in the solar wind,
and at the various outer planets. The orientation of the
wood indicates the direction from which the particles came.
LECP Science Objectives
- The
spectra of the various atomic species comprising the galactic
cosmic radiation, especially at low energy.
- Time
variation of galactic cosmic rays.
- The
radial gradient of galactic cosmic rays.
- Energetic
particles of solar origin associated with flares and active
regions.
- Energetic
particles of planetary origin.
- Interplanetary
energetic particles.
