E-SPART Analyzer for Mars Mission: A New Approach in Signal Processing and Sampling

This paper introduces a novel electrical single particle aerodynamic relaxation time (E-SPART) analyzer for dust particle analysis in the Mars mission. The new E-SPART analyzer is based on a stationary-fringe laser Doppler velocimeter that can simplify the system hardware and reduce its physical size and weight. This paper presents the new operational principle and the signal processing methods. The requirement of the size of sensing volume is discussed by considering pedestal removal and the required time duration of a Doppler signal burst. Experimental results are given to confirm the effectiveness of the principle.