Microshutters for space physics time of flight applications

In present time-of-flight (TOF) mass and energy spectrometers in experimental space plasma physics applications, the resolution is limited by the fact that the particle to be measured loses part of its energy in the generation of the start pulse. To improve the resolution, a fast micromechanical shutter system to generate the start signal has been developed. The microshutter is included in the PRIMA (PRIsma Mass Analyzer) ion detector on-board the Swedish PRISMA mission, which will be launched into low Earth orbit on June 15, 2010.