Physics Domain - research topics of the Physics, Instrumentation, Environment, Space department (DPHY)

Scientific Officer

Alexandre Bresson

DPHY
Physics, Instrumentation, Environment, Space department

PHY research topics of the Physics, Instrumentation, Environment, Space department

• Models and measurements of the space environment DPHY
• Effects of the aerospace radiative environment on onboard systems DPHY
• Interaction of the space environment with materials DPHY
• Charging and electrostatic discharges on satellites DPHY
• Lightning, plasma and electric thrusters DPHY
• Instrumentation and metrology using laser spectroscopy DPHY
• Cold atom inertial sensors DPHY
• High-performance space accelerometry DPHY
• Micro/nano systems (MEMS/NEMS) and miniature inertial sensors DPHY

 PHY stands for the Physics Scientific Domain of ONERA
 

Models and measurements of the space environment

DPHY Angélica Sicard, Sébastien Bourdarie [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• Radiation belts
• Physical modeling
• Radiation environment specification
• Data assimilation, learning
• Radiation monitor

Examples

Low-energy proton sensor With the new stationing profiles for geostationary satellites, satellites are spending more time in the radiation belts. The few measurements available in such orbits show that current engineering models underestimate proton fluxes with energies between 1 and 15 MeV. A new detector head compatible with the ICARE-NG instrument (photo) developed by CNES, ONERA and EREMS has therefore been designed by ONERA and is on board an ADS-built EutelSat satellite.
 

 

 

GREEN (Global Radiation Earth Environnement)) is a global model for specifying the earth's radiation belts, combining the American global reference model AE8/AP8 with ONERA's local specification models. GREEN is therefore able to calculate proton and electron fluxes ranging from a few tens of eV to a few MeV for electrons, and several hundred MeV for protons, across the entire radiation belts.

The SafeSpace project aims to advance space weather forecasting capabilities and contribute to the safety of space systems. This is achieved through the synergy of five well-established space weather models (the CNRS/CDPP tool, KU Leuven's Euhforia, ONERA's data assimilation tool, IASB's plasmasphere model, ONERA's Salammbô code).

Effects of the aerospace radiative environment on embedded systems

DPHY Guillaume Hubert, Laurent Artola . [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• Electronic systems
• Effects of radiation, singular effects (SEE)
• Cumulative effects
• Atmospheric natural radiation environment (NRE)
• Design hardening
• Avionics & space

Examples

Network of neutron spectrometers Set up to characterize and study the natural radiative environment.  In particular, a neutron spectrometer has been operating at the Concordia polar station since 2015, as part of the CHINSTRAP project (ONERA/PHY principal investigator, Continuous High-Altitude Investigation of Neutron Spectra for Terrestrial Radiation Antarctic Project).

MUSCA SEP3-TERRIFIC multi-physics simulation platform Modeling singular-event failures in onboard electronics: radiative environment - radiation-matter interaction - semiconductor physics - circuit-level injection.

Interaction of the space environment with materials

DPHY Christophe lnguimbert, Laurent Artola [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• Effect of space radiation
• Materials
• Semiconductor
• Polymer
• Contamination

This theme offers the European space industry expertise in the effects of radiation on materials used in spacecraft. This applies to thermal control coatings (paints), semiconductor materials used in photoreceptors, and flexible membranes used in stratospheric balloons, which also operate in harsh radiation environments. ONERA has a wide range of experimental resources for simulating the radiative space environment, combined with resources for characterizing the physical properties of these materials (thermo/optical and electronic properties, desorption, contamination, plasticity). We also offer the means to simulate these effects numerically.

Examples

Comprehensive experimental facilities for simulation and analysis of the effects of the radiative space environment

Numerical simulation tools for transport and radiation effects in materials

Charging and electrostatic discharges on satellites

DPHY Sébastien Hess, Pierre Sarrailh. [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• Charging in orbit
• Electrostatic discharges, arcs, induced conductivity
• Electrical aging
• Plasma, particle/plasma satellite interaction
• Electronic emission
• Surface analysis
   

Examples

Electrical charging of lunar dust by the solar wind The DPHY studies how dust on the surface of celestial bodies becomes electrically charged, enabling it to move and adhere to the surface of probes and astronauts' spacesuits sent to the Moon. DPHY has developed unique expertise in this field, combining experimental measurements in the DROP chamber and numerical simulation.

Satellite interaction with space plasmas and electric propulsion plasmas ONERA studies and characterizes the materials used in space and their interactions with the natural and artificial plasmas encountered in orbit. Using the SPIS software it has developed, the Physics, Instrumentation, Environment and Space department is able to simulate the electrostatic cleanliness of satellites during their mission, to prevent the risk of discharges and disruption to equipment, particularly scientific instruments.

Lightning, plasma and electric thrusters

DPHY  Paul-Quentin Elias, Denis Packan [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• Lightning
• Plasmas, electric propulsion
• On-board instrumentation
• Plasma modeling
• High voltage and generators
• Magnetohydrodynamics
• Electrostatic discharges (ESD)
• Atmospheric risk characterization

Examples

Lightning Hazard monitoring system Designed, deployed and operated by ONERA, this system airborne sensors with a network of instrumented autonomous buoys or ground stations. It enables real-time monitoring of lightning-related atmospheric risks, for the benefit of French defense test centers.

ECRA thruster The ECRA thruster heralds the next generation of plasma thrusters for satellites. Combining a magnetic nozzle system for thrust vector control without mechanical movement and a microwave plasma source, its performances are among the highest for the electric thrusters in its range of power. The photo shows the ECRA thrust vectorization system using magnetic actuation.

The Grifon test bench The Grifon test bench consists of a set of generators delivering normative lightning current waves to test samples. It enables advanced instrumentation to be set up for fine characterization of plasma-material interaction phenomena.

The TARANIS plasma simulation platform The combination of this digital platform and the GRIFON experimental facility enables a simulation-experiment comparison that is crucial to the design and safety of future aeronautical systems.

Instrumentation and metrology using laser spectroscopy

DPHY Michael Schermann, Myriam Raybaut [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• Spectroscopy
• Thermometry, velocimetry
• Laser-induced fluorescence
• Spontaneous / coherent Raman scattering (CARS)
• Non-linear optics
• Laser diode absorption spectroscopy
• Optical oscillators and parametric amplifiers
• Controlling the spectral content of coherent sources
• Photo-acoustic spectroscopy
• Gas sensors, differential absorption lidar
• Laser diode absorption spectroscopy
• Frequency combs
• Quantum optics sensors

Examples

Lidars for remote detection of gaseous species Parametric source developments have enabled two technology transfers, as well as the development of multi-species differential absorption Lidar instruments, for the study of atmospheric physics and the detection of hazardous gaseous species.

Femtosecond Coherent Raman Spectroscopy bench An innovative laser architecture has enabled the assembly of such a femtosecond CARS bench operating at high repetition rate (1-5 kHz). Developed for temperature measurement in gases, it has been successfully deployed on ONERA's representative MICADO aeronautical combustion bench.

High-repetition-rate LIF imaging bench A 10 kHz LIF (laser-induced fluorescence) imaging bench has been developed to characterize unsteady flows and/or transient phenomena. An original application to the aluminum atom (Al) was developed and implemented on solid propellant flames containing aluminum particles, to image the fluorescence of aluminum evaporated by the droplets during combustion.

The very intense fluorescence signal from aluminum makes it easy to detect, despite the very harsh conditions (high temperature and pressure, high flame luminosity, highly diffusive medium) that have hitherto prevented diagnostics based on laser spectroscopy techniques from being carried out under representative conditions. The combination of high repetition rate and intense atomic tracer gives excellent contrast instantly. This laser metrology tool provides innovative solutions for non-intrusive analysis of difficult media.

 

 

Sensors for local gas detection using photoacoustics Photoacoustics is a sensitive technique for the detection of trace gases, meeting the needs of a wide range of environmental, safety and security applications. In connection with the "Micro/nano-systems (MEMS/NEMS) and miniature inertial sensors" theme, we are developing sensors based on quartz micro-resonators specifically designed and produced to optimize detection performance.

Cold atom inertial sensors

DPHY Nassim Zahzam, Myriam Raybaut [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• Inertial sensors
• Cold atoms
• Atomic interferometry
• Gravimeters
• Electromagnetic wave sensing using Rydberg atoms

Examples

Onboard quantum gravimeter With support from the DGA, the "cold atom inertial sensors" team has developed a quantum gravimeter providing absolute gravity measurements from a boat or an aircraft.

Hybridization of a quantum accelerometer and an electrostatic accelerometer for space geodesy With ESA support, the "cold atom inertial sensors" team has studied the combination of a quantum accelerometer and an electrostatic accelerometer for measuring the Earth's gravity field from space. Based on simulations and experiments, this concept looks very promising for future space geodesy missions.

High-performance space accelerometry

DPHY Joël Bergé, Manuel Rodrigues [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• Electrostatic accelerometer, femto-g, pico-g
• Inertial sensor
• Satellite drag compensation, attitude control
• Geodesy
• Gravimetry
• Fundamental physics

Examples

CHAMP, GRACE, GOCE, GRACE-FO Space accelerometers developed at ONERA have flown in these missions dedicated to mapping the Earth's gravity field.

These missions define the reference geoid in geophysics.

Here, the twin satellites of the GRACE-FollowOn mission (NASA, continuation of GRACE) and its ONERA accelerometer.

 

MICROSCOPE Thanks to their exceptional performance, the T-SAGE accelerometers allowed this CNES mission to perform the most precise test of the Equivalence Principle to date..

Micro/nano systems (MEMS/NEMS) and miniature inertial sensors

DPHY Jean Guérard, Raphaël Levy [POC name.surname@onera.fr]

• MEMS, NEMS
• Micro/nano systems
• Vibrating inertial sensors
• Thin-film sensors
• 2D materials

Examples

Three-axis accelerometer for inertial navigation, incorporating a MEMS vibrating quartz structure obtained by chemical etching. Equipped with a silicon suspension and integrated digital electronics, the instrument is qualified on a launcherr.

MEMS quartz resonator for precision time base, collectively manufactured by deep reactive ion etching (DRIE). Unlike wet chemical etching, the absence of etching patterns in this specific ONERA process (100 µm vertical flanks) is a highly promising research path for the development of innovative quartz cells

Measuring device under development to assess the convective exchange coefficient and gas temperature of ramjet flows. Sensor integrating two fluxmeters and two sputtered thin-film surface thermometers.

Ultra-sensitive gas sensors for detecting NO2 and NH3 based on graphene on a multilayer boron nitride substrate (synthesized by chemical vapor deposition at ONERA) produced by cleanroom photolithography.