Diamond Experiment In the MagnetOSphere (DEIMOS) - A Collisionless Shocks and Solar Wind Mission Concept for the Lunar Gateway
At a Glance
Section titled âAt a Glanceâ| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2024-11-27 |
| Journal | Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics |
| Authors | T. Shonibare, K. R. Murphy, I. P. Pakhotin |
| Institutions | Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, Lakehead University |
Abstract
Section titled âAbstractâAbstract In the scientific field of collisionless shocks, interplanetary space comprises a critical natural laboratory allowing the study of processes at spatial scales which are impossible to recreate in laboratories on Earth. Despite decades of research, key questions in the dynamics of collisionless shocks including energy transport and exchange remain unresolved due to instrumental limitations. With the return of humanity to the Moon and the upcoming construction of the Lunar Platform: Gateway (LOPâG) space station, the possibility arises to study the pristine solar wind in unprecedented detail, with the space station potentially enabling significant power capacity and data rates which would be challenging to achieve on smaller unmanned spacecraft. The space stationâs location in a lunar halo orbit allows the study of the solar wind away from the contaminating influence of the terrestrial bow shock. Here we propose to utilize nitrogenâvacancy (NV) diamond technology to combine magnetometer, temperature and plasma density measurements into a single instrument which can sample kHzârange magnetic field with sensitivities on the order of <1eâ5 nT, while also sounding the local plasma density and temperature. These capabilities will generate datasets which will contribute significantly to shock science, helping answer key outstanding questions in the field. Simultaneously, these observations will improve understanding of space weather dynamics, contribute to crossâcalibrating complementary missions, and probe the lunar exosphere. With the paucity of longâterm, highâcadence, highâsensitivity pristine solar wind datasets, the Diamond Experiment In the MagnetOSphere (DEIMOS) will fill a key need for the solar wind and collisionless shocks community.
Tech Support
Section titled âTech SupportâOriginal Source
Section titled âOriginal SourceâReferences
Section titled âReferencesâ- 1993 - Proc. Of START Conf., Aussois, France