| |
|
Plasma
Wave Investigation---"PWS"
The PWS, like the PRA, is essentially a radio receiver and
amplifier. It listens for signals at frequencies that the
human ear can hear (audio frequencies), as well as at frequencies
slightly above audible. The PWS shares the 10-m pair of rabbit
ears with the PRA, but uses them as a single antenna. With
an effective length of only 7 m (23 ft), the PWS normally
operates in a scanning mode.
The PWS has a second mode of operation.
It can simultaneously listen to all the stations on its
audio band. This mode is used most frequently when the spacecraft
is near a planet, and can operate simultaneously with the
scanning mode.
PWS
Science Objectives
- Determine
the role of wave-particle interactions at the bow shock,
in neutral sheet merging regions of the outer magnetosphere,
in the internal shock at the corotation boundary, and
on field lines threading the satellites.
- Determine
information about the mechanisms that control the interactions
of the satellites with the rotating magnetospheres.
- Determine
the plasma wave E vector component amplitudes and frequency
characteristics to obtain pitch-angle diffusion behavior
and stable trapping limits.
- Determine
the plasma density profiles.
- Determine
atmospheric discharges for lightning whistler signals
that escape into the magnetosphere.
- Determine
the characteristics of plasma signals associated with
any planetary rings.
This
is the block diagram of the PWS:
|
|
|
