Method of Establishing Reference Potential of Plasma Detector Using Isolated Conductor
Xiaoming Li, Chao Liu, Yibing Guan, Aibing Zhang · Chinese Journal of Space Science · 2020
A technique of using an isolated conductor for establishing a probe reference potential in space plasma environment is presented. In this technique, a metal conductor is electrically isolated from spacecraft. Potential established at the metal conductor is added to probe's power module by circuit, thus a reference potential for the probe is established. This technique can be applied to spacecraft such as satellites safely and conveniently, and it can make the ground potential of probe basically equal to the potential of space plasma, avoiding the impact of spacecraft potential on the probe. This technique will be applied to the plasma in situ detector of China's space station. Through testing, it is verified that the reference potential of -210~+210V can be built by this technique, and this reference potential range meets the technical requirements of -200~+200V that space station plasma in situ detector needs.