Monte Carlo simulations of CASSINI/LEMMS

Abstract

In an effort to characterize the response of the low energy magnetospheric measurements system (LEMMS) on the CASSINI spacecraft to energetic ions and electrons we have taken advantage of the excellent pre-launch beam calibrations in comparison to an extensive series of electron and ion Monte Carlo simulations. We selected the geometry and tracking toolkit to provide the framework for the instrument modeling and simulation environment. The results from these simulations match very well with the data collected during the instrument calibration. This gives us confidence that this simulation toolkit handles both electron and ion interactions in a reasonable fashion and that we can successfully apply this tool to regions of the spectrum where calibration data is not available.