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Helium Abundance Detector (HAD)

NSSDC ID: 1989-084E-01
Mission Name: Galileo Probe
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ulf Von Zahn

Description

The objective of this investigation was the precise (0.1%) determination of the helium abundance in the Jovian atmosphere from 3-8 bars. A two-arm, double-pathlength optical interferometer that includes an infrared LED light source operating at a wavelength of 900 nm, an interference filter, and a photodetector array, is used to measure the refractive index difference between an atmospheric sample and a reference gas mixture. It was mounted on the probe with an inlet pipe to the ambient atmosphere.

Facts in Brief

Mass: 1.4 kg
Power (avg): 0.9 W
Bit rate (avg): 0.0040 bps

Discipline

  • Planetary Science: Atmospheres

Additional Information

Questions or comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. Edwin V. Bell, II.

 

Personnel

Name Role Original Affiliation E-mail
Dr. Ulf Von Zahn General Contact Universitat Bonn vonzahn@iap-kborn.de
Prof. Donald M. Hunten Co-Investigator University of Arizona dhunten@lpl.arizona.edu
Dr. H. J. Hoffman Co-Investigator Messerschmit-Bolk-Blom  

Selected References

von Zahn, U., and D. M. Hunten, The Jupiter helium interferometer experiment on the Galileo entry probe, Space Sci. Rev., 60, No. 1/4, 263-281, May 1992.

von Zahn, U., and D. M. Hunten, The helium mass fraction in Jupiter's atmosphere, Science, 272, No. 5263, 849-851, May 1996.

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