Hot Plasma Composition Analyzer-HPCA
by Kristin Forrester
What does "Hot Plasma Composition Analyzer" (HPCA) actually saying?
 |
HPCA will measure the ions in the plasma where the two
magnetic fields 'reconnect'. |
Basically, the purpose of this machine is to break down
and understand what makes hot plasma.HCPA
The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS)
Exectuive Summary describes the HCPA as follows:
"The HPCA uses a unique radio frequency tech-nique to accurately measure
minor ions in the presence of high proton fluxes. This new capa-bility will
significantly enhance our under-standing of the role of various ion species
in the reconnection process."
Actual Document.
What???
When I first read the Executive Summary description of the HCPA I had no
idea what it meant. So I broke down into key parts:
| Ions- An ion is a an atom, group of atoms, or subatomic particle such as
electrons and protons. When an atom is stripped of electrons or strips electrons
from another atom the atoms invovled become ions. Ions have an electric charge
because electrons have electric sharges. |
| Protons- The HCPA measures minor ions in the presence of high proton fluxes.
Remember that ions can be electrons or protons. In this case the HCPA measures
protons. Electrons are negative and the protons are positive. |
Fluxes
| Momentum flux- |
The rate of change of momentum moving across a unit area.(Newtonian fluid, viscous flow) |
| Heat flux- |
The rate of heat flow across a unit area.(Fourier's Law) |
| Chemical flux- |
The rate of movement of moles across a unit area.(Fick's law of diffusion) |
| Mass flux- |
The rate of mass flow across a unit area.(An alternate form of Fick's law ) |
| Volumetric flux- |
The rate of volume flow across a unit area.(Darcy's law) |
Radio Frequency
| Radio- |
The wireless transmission of signals, by modulation of electromagnetic waves
with frequencies below those of light. |
| Frequency- |
Measurement of the number of times that a repeated event occurs
per unit of time. |
| Radio Frequency- | Refers to that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
in which electromagnetic waves can be generated by alternating current fed
to an antenna. |
 |
I found all the term definitions at Wikipedia.org, all you
have to do is plug in the word of question in the search bar and countless information
will appear to aid you on your quest for knowledge!
Wikipedia.
HPCA measures:
HPCA I found the information in the list from this website.