date: 2011 March 30 (Wed) 16:00-17:00
room: Kobe University, Science and Technology Research Building #4-809
speaker: Maki Nakamura (The University of Tokyo)
organizer: Hiroshi Kimura
title: Effects of a light reflecting layer to the response of piezoelectric PZT
abstract: We have studied responses of piezoelectric PZT elements for measuring cosmic dust. This report is aimed at a theme on effects of a light reflection layer to the response of the PZT element.

The BepiColombo mission that explores Mercury and its environment is progressed as a joint project between JAXA and ESA. Since the measurement of dust ambient Mercury is one of the approved programs, the Mercury Dust Monitor (MDM) has been developed onboard the BepiColombo mission (MPO). Because of restricted resources to the MDM, it comprises piezoelectric PZT elements and electronic circuits.

Since the MDM is to be operated around the Mercury orbit, the thermal flow around the PZT element is estimated using a thermal model. The temperature condition under which the element is operated is crucial, because the piezoelectric character should be maintained. In order to overcome this difficulty, we discussed a layer that reflects thermal flow from the sun. The layer is useful to lower temperature down at which piezoelectricity is retained. On the other hand, this layer would considerably affect the characteristic of the PZT.

At present, experimental results of :
1)the effects of the white paint to the output signal influence at PZT
2)the output signal forms from a PZT detector by changing the position of laser spots on the PZT detector