Development of instruments for electromagnetic field characterization of the auroral region

The modification and updating of the Small Magnetometer In Low-mass Experiment (SMILE) and the pilot study and development of the Electric Field Probe (EFP) to demonstrate on the Spinning Quad Ionospheric Deployer (SQUID) Rocket Experiment to be launched in February 2011 are presented. These two sensors complement each other in the task of characterising electromagnetic fields: SMILE measuring the magnetic field and the EFP measuring the electric field. SMILE has been previously developed and tested in partnership with the Lviv Center of Institute of Space Research although here SMILE is modified to conform with the requirement of being a standalone sensor for the light-weight Polarized Gamma-ray Observer mission as well as mating with a interface board on SQUID. The EFP is developed to be built into the core electronics of SQUID. The electronics were developed and printed circuit boards routed, manufactured and populated for testing. Field Programmable Gate Array software was updated and expanded on. Testing and development continue in anticipation of experiment delivery deadlines.Validerat; 20101217 (root