METHOD DETERMINING PARAMETERS OF IONOSPHERE OF THE EARTH AND EQUIPMENT FOR ITS REALIZATION Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: geophysics, space physics. SUBSTANCE: method can be employed to measure electric fields in ionosphere of the Earth with the aid of scientific instrumentation installed in spacecraft. Pulse electron beam of specified energy is injected and scanned in plane U passing through vector B_з and geometrical axis of injector n_g. Injection direction n_e along which maximum intensity of electrons is achieved is found. Then injected ion beam is scanned in plane U near direction n_e and direction n_i of injection of ion beam along which maximum intensity of ions is achieved is determined. Angle Δϕ included between vectors n_e and n_i, is determined as function of running time and on this basis there are computed values of constant component E_zo, amplitude E_zA and frequency f_z of variable component of electric field in direction of vector B₃. Value of constant component E_Q, amplitude E_QA and frequency f_Q of variable component of electric field lying in plane Q⊥B_з. are determined by present time dependence of value of maximum of intensity of ion beam coming into detector, by maximum and minimum values of drift of ions in plane Q⊥B_з. Instrumentation for realization of method determining parameters of ionosphere of the Earth located aboard spacecraft includes injector and detector of ions, former of instructions to switch ion systems on and off, system determining vector of inductance of local magnetic field B₃, of the Earth, system determining vector of orbital speed υ_оrb, unit determining component of orbital speed projected on plane Q⊥B₃, electron injector and detector, ion and electron scanning systems, former of instructions to switch electron systems on and off, analyzers of maximum of intensity of detected beams of ions and electrons, systems controlling injected ion and electron beams, unit for information processing, analysis and generation of results, storage of vector n_g of geometric axis of electron injector, unit determining component of orbital speed on plane Q⊥B₃, unit determining angle β included between vectors n_g and B₃, unit determining angle α included between vectors and n_gQ component of vector n_g on plane Q, unit storing required angles β₀ ± Δβ₀, α₀ ± Δα₀ and comparing them with angles β and α. correspondingly. Technical result of invention consists in determination of constant component of intensity of electric field in direction of vector B₃ and in plane Q⊥B₃. EFFECT: determination of constant component of intensity of electric field. 3 cl, 7 dwg, 5 tbl