Abstract
Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers
(TWINS) is a NASA Explorer Mission-of-Opportunity to stereoscopically
image the Earth’s magnetosphere for the first time. TWINS extends our
understanding of magnetospheric structure and processes by providing
simultaneous Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA) imaging from two widely
separated locations. TWINS observes ENAs from 1–100 keV with high
angular (∼4°×4°) and time (∼1-minute) resolution. The TWINS Ly-α
monitor measures the geocoronal hydrogen density to aid in ENA analysis
while environmental sensors provide contemporaneous measurements of the
local charged particle environments. By imaging ENAs with identical
instruments from two widely spaced, high-altitude, high-inclination
spacecraft, TWINS enables three-dimensional visualization of the
large-scale structures and dynamics within the magnetosphere for the
first time. This “instrument paper” documents the TWINS design,
construction, calibration, and initial results. Finally, the appendix of
this paper describes and documents the Southwest Research Institute
(SwRI) instrument calibration facility; this facility was used for all
TWINS instrument-level calibrations.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 157-231 |
Number of pages | 75 |
Journal | Space Science Reviews |
Volume | 142 |
Issue number | 1-4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- ENA
- ENA instrumentation
- Energetic neutral atom imaging
- Geocorona
- Magnetosphere
- Space plasma calibration facility