INCA - THE ION-NEUTRAL CAMERA FOR ENERGETIC NEUTRAL ATOM IMAGING OF THE SATURNIAN MAGNETOSPHERE

Techniques developed for the detection and characterization of energet ic (>20 keV) ions in space plasmas have been modified to include imagi ng so that energetic neutral atoms at Saturn may be used to form image s of the Saturnian magnetosphere and its interaction with the atmosphe re of the moon Titan. The basic elements of the ion-neutral camera hea d on the magnetospheric imaging instrument for the Cassini mission are described, with emphasis on developmental detection techniques and co mponents. In particular, pulse-height analysis of the microchannel pla te responses to different mass neutrals is used for rough composition determination, and deflection plates in the aperture as well as time-o f-flight measurements allow imaging of neutral atoms from within regio ns of moderate intensity ambient ion and electron fluxes.