Measurements of Temperature and Velocity Distribution of Thermal Electrons by the Akebono (EXOS-D) Satellite

Experimental Setup and Preliminary Results

Abstract

An instrument for measuring the velocity distribution of thermal electrons (TED) is installed in the Akebono (EXOS-D) satellite which was launched on February 22, 1989. The instrument was basically designed to reveal global characteristics of the thermal electrons in the energy range of 0 to a few eV. The present paper gives an outline of the experimental setup, and describes preliminary results of the TED measurements concerning both the velocity distribution and the temperature.