A Multifaceted Approach to Space Physics

Abstract

The Princeton Space Physics Group has already opened an exciting new chapter in the short period since its assembly. In addition to the scientific research and management of space-borne mission instruments already in operation,the group has built the newly minted Space Physics Laboratory on Broadmead Street. The cleanroom and calibration system that will be used to build and test the new plasma instruments the team will design has already achieved considerable development since the laboratory was opened less than a year ago. While there aremanifold reasons to celebrate the advancements made in the research, engineering, and learning capabilities the new facility will bring to the Space Physics Group, there are many challenges that await the team as their objectives expand in scope and depth apace with material gains made in the Space Physics Laboratory. This research seeks to assist this growth by providing a series of tools that will assist the Space Physics Group in a variety of applications. The development of the Space Physics Laboratory Testing and Calibration Facility Compendium deliversan organizational and learning aid thatprovides administrators and team leaders a central repository for their expanding programs in a manner conducive for teaching students and new team members the laboratory’stechnicalfacetsand safety measures.Using the SIMION software, simulations exploring the evolution of particles through the different components and chambers of the calibration system. These models enhance understanding in the characteristics of the ion beam used to test detections by mission instruments undergoing development. Together these tools seek to not only harness the growth in complexity and diversity of the team’s objectives but to repurpose each adaptation in a manner that links the progress in each to the success of the whole.