Devices, systems, and methods for dispersive energy imaging

A sensor that defines first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, the sensor comprising:

• an aperture system configured to permit a sample of particles from a bulk collection of particles to enter the sensor when the particles have a mean velocity vector relative to the sensor substantially in a direction in which the first axis extends;
• an electrostatic deflector configured to provide an electric field substantially along a direction in which the third axis extends such that the electric field can deflect the sample of particles in the direction of the third axis when the sample of particles carries a charge, wherein the electrostatic deflector comprises a screen at an output end;
• a detector system comprising a microchannel plate and a two-dimensional imaging readout at the output of the microchannel plate, the microchannel plate positioned between the electrostatic deflector and the imaging readout;
• wherein the microchannel plate defines an input end and an output end, wherein the input end is positioned to receive deflected particles from the electrostatic deflector;
• and
• wherein a periphery of an output end of the electrostatic deflector defines a transverse area, and wherein no less than about 50 percent of the transverse area is open and in direct communication with the microchannel plate such that particles can be delivered to the microchannel plate through the open portion of the transverse area and wherein openings in the screen define the open portion of the transverse area.

A sensor system comprising:

• a first sensor comprising;
• an aperture system configured to permit a sample of particles from a bulk collection of particles to enter the sensor when the particles have a mean velocity vector relative to the sensor in a first direction, the aperture system comprising an opening elongated in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
• an electrostatic deflector configured to provide an electric field in a third direction that is substantially perpendicular to each of the first and second directions such that the electric field can deflect the sample of particles in the third direction when the sample of particles carries a charge, wherein the electrostatic deflector comprises a screen at an output end;
• a microchannel plate defining an input end and an output end, wherein the input end is positioned to receive deflected particles from the electrostatic deflector, wherein particles pass out of the electrostatic deflector through the screen when traveling to the microchannel plate and wherein the electrostatic deflector is in direct communication with the microchannel plate such that particles that exit from the electrostatic deflector do not pass through a separate filter prior to being delivered to the microchannel plate;
• and
• an imaging readout at an output end of the microchannel plate, the imaging readout comprising a plurality of anodes that extend in the second direction and a plurality of anodes that extend in the third direction;
• and
• a second sensor comprising:
• an aperture system configured to permit a sample of particles from a bulk collection of particles to enter the sensor when the sensor moves through the bulk collection of particles in the first direction, the aperture system comprising an opening elongated in the third direction.

A method of detecting properties of atmospheric particles, the method comprising:

• receiving atmospheric particles through an elongated opening, wherein the atmospheric particles comprise a first species and a second species, and wherein the first species has a smaller energy than does the second species;
• deflecting the particles via an applied electric field in an electrostatic deflector such that the first species is deflected to a greater extent than is the second species, wherein the electrostatic deflector comprises a screen at an output end;
• delivering both the first and second species of deflected particles through the screen to a microchannel plate, wherein delivering comprises delivering the first and second species of deflected particles directly to the microchannel plate such that the first and second species of deflected particles that exit from the electrostatic deflector do not pass through a separate filter prior to being delivered to the microchannel plate;
• and
• delivering output signals representing both the first and second species from the microchannel plate to a two-dimensional anode array, wherein the microchannel plate is positioned between the electrostatic deflector and the anode array.

A method of detecting properties of atmospheric particles, the method comprising:

• receiving atmospheric particles through an elongated opening, wherein the particles comprise a first species and a second species, and wherein the first species has a smaller mass than does the second species;
• passing the particles through an electrostatic deflector that provides an electric field and wherein the electrostatic deflector comprises a screen at an output end;
• deflecting the particles via the electric field such that the first species is deflected to a greater extent than is the second species;
• delivering the particles through the screen to a microchannel plate positioned between the electrostatic deflector and a two-dimensional imaging readout, wherein a periphery of the output end of the electrostatic deflector defines a transverse area, and wherein no less than about 50 percent of the transverse area is open and in direct communication with the microchannel plate, wherein delivering comprises delivering the particles to the microchannel plate through the open portion of the transverse area, wherein openings in the screen define the open portion of the transverse area;
• and
• detecting, using the two dimensional imaging readout, a two-dimensional spatial orientation of the deflected particles at an output end of the microchannel plate.