Radiation tolerance of the PNI RM3100 magnetometer for a Europa lander mission

L. H. Regoli; L. H. Regoli; M. B. Moldwin; C. Raines; T. A. Nordheim; C. A. Miller; M. Carts; S. A. Pozzi

doi:10.5194/gi-9-499-2020

Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems (Dec 2020)

Radiation tolerance of the PNI RM3100 magnetometer for a Europa lander mission

L. H. Regoli,
L. H. Regoli,
M. B. Moldwin,
C. Raines,
T. A. Nordheim,
C. A. Miller,
M. Carts,
S. A. Pozzi

Affiliations

L. H. Regoli: Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
L. H. Regoli: The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA
M. B. Moldwin: Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
C. Raines: Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
T. A. Nordheim: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
C. A. Miller: Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
M. Carts: Civil Servant, Radiation Effects and Analysis Group, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
S. A. Pozzi: Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-9-499-2020
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9
pp. 499 – 507

Abstract

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The results of two radiation test campaigns on a low-cost commercial off-the-shelf magnetometer are presented. The test setup and the total ionization dose (TID) levels studied were designed to meet the requirements of a mission to land on Europa. Based on the Europa Lander Science Definition Team report, instruments inside an aluminum vault at the surface of Europa would need to withstand TID of up to 300 krad(SI). In order to evaluate the performance of the PNI RM3100 magnetometer, nine separate sensors were irradiated at two different facilities during two separate campaigns and under different configurations, including passive and active tests. Of the nine sensors, seven survived the TID of 300 krad(SI) while the other two sensors started presenting failures after reaching 150 krad(SI). Post-irradiation tests showed that eight of the nine sensors continued to work without appreciable degradation after stopping exposure, while one sensor stopped working altogether.

Published in Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems

ISSN: 2193-0856 (Print); 2193-0864 (Online)
Publisher: Copernicus Publications
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Science: Physics: Geophysics. Cosmic physics
Website: http://www.geoscientific-instrumentation-methods-and-data-systems.net

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