Design considerations in the measurement of electron temperature in the ionosphere

Measurements of electron temperature in the ionosphere using rocket and satellite-borne probes have been made for some years by the Department of Electron Physics and Space Research of Birmingham University, using the experimental technique described. The apparatus, in its latest form, has been developed to provide a more compact and reliable system by exploiting the advantages of linear integrated circuits over the discrete component circuitry used previously. In considering the performance of the experiment, particular attention has been paid to the stability problems associated with the closed-loop system employed.