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Detailed Reference Information
Steinberg et al. 1988
Steinberg, J.T., Gurnett, D.A., Banks, P.M. and Raitt, W.J. (1988). Double-probe potential measurements near the spacelab 2 electron beam. Journal of Geophysical Research 93. doi: 10.1029/88JA00337. issn: 0148-0227.

As part of the Spacelab 2 mission the plasma diagnostics package (PDP) was released from the shuttle as a free-flying satellite. The PDP carried a quasi-static electric field instrument which made differential voltage measurements between two floating probes. At various times during the free flight, and electron beam was ejected from the shuttle. Large differential voltages between the double probes were recorded in association with the electron beam. However, analysis indicates that these large signals are probably not caused by ambient electric fields. Instead, they can be explained by considering three effects: shadowing of the probes from streaming electrons by the PDP chassis, crossing of the PDP wake by the probes, and spatial gradients in the fluxes of energetic electrons reaching the probes. Plasma measurements on the PDP show that energetic electrons exist in a region 20 m wide and up to at least 170 m downstream from the electron beam. At 80 or more meters downstream from the beam, the double probe measurements show that the energetic electron flux is opposite to the injection direction, as would be expected for a secondary returning electron beam produced by scattering of the primary electron beam. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1988

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Space Plasma Physics, Active perturbation experiments, Space Plasma Physics, Spacecraft sheaths, wakes, charging, Space Plasma Physics, General or miscellaneous
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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