Compact ion/electron analyzer for spaceflight or laboratory use

A space qualified 260° spherical plate electrostatic analyzer has been developed as a plasma diagnostic tool. The use of nested spheres and unusually shaped microchannel plates has resulted in a sensor capable of measuring simultaneously the three-dimensional populations of ions and electrons in a plasma. High-current microchannel plates and a new packaging of a hybrid preamplifier discriminator are combined with an uncommon high-voltage circuit. The combination of these features yields an analyzer that is compact and lightweight, efficient in its power consumption, and has a broad dynamic range.