Space performance of the multistage labyrinthine SMEI baffle

Andrew Buffington; Bernard V. Jackson; P. Paul Hick

doi:10.1117/12.615526

24 August 2005 Space performance of the multistage labyrinthine SMEI baffle

Andrew Buffington, Bernard V. Jackson, P. Paul Hick

Proceedings Volume 5901, Solar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation; 590118 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.615526
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) was launched on 6 January 2003, and shortly thereafter raised to a nearly circular orbit at 840 km. Three SMEI CCD cameras on the zenith-nadir oriented CORIOLIS spacecraft cover most of the sky beyond about 20°. from the Sun, each 102-minute orbit. Data from this instrument provide precision visible-light photometric sky maps. Once starlight and other constant or slowly varying backgrounds are subtracted, the residue is mostly sunlight that has been Thomson-scattered from heliospheric electrons. These maps enable 3-dimensional tomographic reconstruction of heliospheric density and velocity. This analysis requires 0.1% photometry and background-light reduction below one S10 (the brightness equivalent of a 10th magnitude star per square degree). Thus 10^-15 of surface-brightness reduction is required relative to the solar disk. The SMEI labyrinthine baffle provides roughly 10^-10 of this reduction; the subsequent optics system provides the remainder. We analyze data obtained over two years in space, and evaluate the full system's stray-light rejection performance.

Citation Download Citation

Andrew Buffington, Bernard V. Jackson, and P. Paul Hick "Space performance of the multistage labyrinthine SMEI baffle", Proc. SPIE 5901, Solar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation, 590118 (24 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.615526

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available