RAPID - Research with Adaptive Particle Imaging Detectors

The RAPID spectrometer for the Cluster mission is an advanced particle detector for the analysis of suprathermal plasma distributions in the energy range from 20-400 keV for electrons, 40-1500 keV (4000 keV) for hydrogen, and 10 keV/nuc - 1500 keV (4000 keV) for heavier ions. Novel detector concepts in combination with pin-hole acceptance allow the measurement of angular distributions over a range of 180° in polar angle for either species. The detection principle for the ionic component is based on a two-dimensional analysis of the particle's velocity and energy. Electrons are identified by the well known energy-range relationship.

Characteristic Parameters of the RAPID Instrument

IIMS IES
Energy range (keV)
     Hydrogen 28 - 4007
     Helium 137 - 3800
     CNO 274 - 4046 (Oxygen)
     Electrons 309 - 406
Mass Classes (amu) 1, 4, 12 - 16, 28 - 56
Mass Resolution (A/dA) 4 (Oxygen)
Field-of-View ±3° ×180° ±17.5° ×180°
Angular Coverage
     Polar (Range/Intervals) 180°/12 180°/9
     Azimuthal (Range/Sectors) 360°/16 360°/16 or 8
     Range/ Steps 0 - 10 / 16
Geometric Factor (cm2.sr)
     Total (180°)/per pixel 2.7 × 10-2 / 2.2 × 10-3  2.0 × 10-2/2.2 × 10-3

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