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PIXIEThe Polar Ionospheric
X-ray Imaging Experiment (PIXIE) is an electronic camera which images the earth's aurora in x-rays. The x-rays
measured by PIXIE are generated when energetic electrons strike the upper atmosphere. By imaging these x-rays and
measuring their energies across a broad energy range, PIXIE determines the fluxes and characteristic energies of the
parent electrons. This information is used to determine other important characteristics of the ionosphere, and of the
interactions between the earth's upper atmosphere, ionosphere, radiation belts, and magnetosphere.
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SEPSThe SEPS instrument
is located on the POLAR satellite despun platform along
with the auroral imagers, and is independent of the other
CEPPAD sensors.
SEPS consists of two independent telescopes which measure both the energetic electron, and ion fluxes
in the vicinity
of the magnetic field-aligned loss, and source cone regions with high sensitivity, and with fine angular and time resolution. SEPS instrument parameters
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UARS - PEM/HEPSThe PEM/HEPS
accurately profiles atmospheric energy deposition rates from electrons and ions, it
measures particle fluxes as a function of pitch angle as well as energy. HEPS was
designed to provide simultaneous pitch angle measurements with high flux sensitivity (large
geometric factor) and fine energy resolution. It achieves these measurements over broad energy
and pitch angle ranges. Although the instrument incorporates techniques used previously,
it provides unique coverage with the sensitivity and pitch
angle resolution that are essential to accomplishing the UARS objectives.
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UARS - PEM/AXISThe
Atmospheric X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (AXIS) measures the intensities and energy spectra of 3 keV to
100 keV bremsstrahlung x-rays that are generated as energetic electrons penetrate the atmosphere. By
continuously remote-sensing these x-rays over a wide area from limb to limb beneath UARS, AXIS provides a
"global" monitor of atmospheric energy input. The AXIS data set is thus complementary to the more direct, but
localized energy input monitor provided by the PEM particle spectrometers. Compared to x-ray instruments
flown aboard satellites on previous missions, AXIS measures atmospheric x-rays over a broader energy range
with finer energy resolution. These attributes are vital for accomplishing the UARS mission objectives.
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