HIT measures the elemental The specific components or “ingredients” that make up a substance or type of matter., energy spectra, angle distributions, and arrival times of high-energy ions. The High-energy Ion Telescope (HIT) collects, measures, and maps very energetic particles coming through the heliosphere, as well as those flowing from the Sun. Near real-time energetic particle data collected by HIT will be used to better predict and warn scientists about Earth-bound solar storm activity. delivers full-sky coverage from a wide instrument The area or region that can be observed or captured by a particular instrument or sensor. (The field-of-view is the area or region that can be observed or captured by a particular instrument or sensor.) to enable a high resolution of An atom that has become electrically charged by the gain or loss of one or more electrons. measurements, such as observing shock-accelerated ions, determining the origin of the Energetic charged particles generated in solar flares and CMEs. Solar cosmic rays are typically lower energy than galactic cosmic rays. Also called Solar Cosmic Rays. (SEPs) spectra, and resolving particle transport in the The bubble-like region surrounding the solar system inflated by the solar wind, shielding the solar system from interstellar radiation..
The instrument consists of a sensor head and electronics box, separated by a mechanical bracket. The sensor head is equipped with several silicon solid-state detectors (SSDs) oriented with varying fields-of-view (FOV) angles in relationship to IMAP’s spin axis. As ions enter the instrument from multiple angles, HIT is able to sort the energetic ions, which range from hydrogen (H) to nickel (Ni), by intensity, species, A measure of an object's resistance to change in its motion (inertial mass); a measure of the strength of gravitational force an object can produce (gravitational mass)., and direction of origin.
Two of HIT's SSD FOVs are sensitive to high-energy electrons and report data used for the The IMAP Active Link for Reat-Time (I-ALiRT) system provides a high-cadence stream of near-real time space weather data from the HIT, CoDICE, SWAPI, SWE, and MAG instruments to scientists on Earth via a network of antenna partners located around the globe, including the DSN. This enhanced data stream will assist in improving overall reliability and timing of Earthbound space weather predictions, providing data to forecasters in time for users to take protective action. The conditions and activity observed in interplanetary space caused by the Sun’s activity, such as solar flares, solar storms, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Severe space weather conditions directed towards Earth can impact infrastructure and technology on Earth, as well as satellites, spacecraft, and astronauts in its trajectory. data stream, allowing space weather metrics to be provided in near-real-A measure of the flow of events.. In-situ electrons can be used as a predictor of solar Usually refers to electromagnetic waves, such as light, radio, infrared, X-rays, ultraviolet; also sometimes used to refer to atomic particles of high energy, such as electrons (beta-radiation), helium nuclei (alpha-radiation), and so on. and other drivers of space weather that may arrive at Earth later in a solar event.
HIT design and assembly is led by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).