Instrument Information
IDENTIFIER urn:esa:psa:context:instrument:uly.cospin-let::1.2
NAME COSPIN-Low Energy Telescope for ULY
TYPE Charged Particle Detector
DESCRIPTION The COSPIN Low Energy Telescope (LET) is a sophisticated instrument designed to measure the flux, energy spectra, and elemental composition of solar energetic particles and low-energy cosmic ray nuclei, spanning from hydrogen to iron, within the energy range of approximately 1 to 75 MeV/n. Utilizing a double dE/dX vs. E telescope configuration, the LET includes advanced on-board electronics capable of prioritizing the analysis of rare nuclear species over more common ones, with isotope separation mechanisms for light nuclei such as helium. The LET sensor, incorporated within the SIM-1 package alongside other telescopes and a digital processing unit, is strategically protected by protective shielding and features a gas purge system to prevent contamination during launch and ground testing. The sensor comprises a four-element solid-state detector setup, supplemented by a cylindrical scintillator shield, and employs complex signal processing and event prioritization systems to ensure accurate data collection. Following its activation post-launch, the LET demonstrated excellent in-flight performance, successfully capturing and resolving the flux of isotopes from solar flare events, thus contributing significantly to our understanding of particle populations in the heliosphere during the Ulysses mission. Extensive ground calibrations further validated its operational capacity, ensuring that the LET can effectively distinguish between various nuclear species under varying conditions. This instrument's capability to yield both pulse-height analyzed data and detailed counting rate information positions it as a critical tool for advancing heliophysical research and enhancing delineation of cosmic particle interactions.
MODEL IDENTIFIER
NAIF INSTRUMENT IDENTIFIER
SERIAL NUMBER not applicable
REFERENCES Kunow, H., R. Mueller-Mellin, H. Sierks, G. Wibberenz, A. Raviart, R. Ducros, P. Ferrando, and L. Treguer, The Kiel Electron Telescope On Board Ulysses, Proc. 22nd Int. Cosmic Ray Conf. (Dublin), 2, 503, 1991.

Marsden, R.G., T.R. Sanderson, A.M. Heras, and K.-P. Wenzel, Ulysses SEP Composition Measurements: First Results from the COSPIN LET Experiment, Proc. 22nd Int. Cosmic Ray Conf. (Dublin), 3, 335, 1991.

Simpson, J.A., J.D. Anglin, A. Balogh, M. Bercovitch, J.M. Bouman, E.E. Budzinski, J.R. Burrows, R. Carvell, J.J. Connell, R. Ducros, P. Ferrando, J. Firth, M. Garcia-Munoz, J. Henrion, R.J. Hynds, B. Iwers, R. Jacquet, H. Kunow, G. Lentz, R.G. Marsden, R.B. McKibben, R. Mueller-Mellin, D.E. Page, M. Perkins, A. Raviart, T.R. Sanderson, H. Sierks, L. Treguer, A.J. Tuzzolino, K.-P. Wenzel, and G. Wibberenz, The Ulysses cosmic ray and solar particle investigation, Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Set: 92, 365-399, 1992.