Stephanie A. Getty (1), Lance Delzeit (2), Brian Jamieson (3), Patrick
Roman (4), Paul Mahaffy (5),
Gunther Kletetschka (6),(7), Peter J.
Wasilewski (7), and David D. Allred (8)
(1) NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center, Code 541
(2) NASA Ames Research Center
(3) SB Microsystems
(4) NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
Code 553
(5) NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
Code 699
(6) Catholic University of America, Dept
of Physics
(7) NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
Code 691
(8) Brigham Young University, Dept of
Physics and Astronomy
Title
Carbon Nanotube-based Electronic Devices for Spaceflight Instruments
Abstract
Nanoelectronic components are among the advanced technologies that show
promise to benefit NASAís upcoming spaceflight missions where
mass and power of sensors and instruments are among the important
design considerations. A technology development program is presently in
place at Goddard Space Flight Center to develop and integrate nanoscale
technologies into scientific instruments. Present activities include
development of a next-generation magnetometer, based on the
electromechanical properties of carbon nanotubes, and a cold cathode
electron gun for integration into a miniaturized time-of-flight mass
spectrometer. Growth, fabrication, and electronic properties of
carbon nanotubes will be presented, and implications for instrument
maturation will be discussed.