RPW Data Center
solo_L3_multi-mag-rpw-scm-merged-srf-256
The solo_L3_multi-mag-rpw-scm-merged-srf-256 data provides the merged magnetic field continuous waveforms of the three components from continuous up to 128 Hz.
The merged data are obtained using Burst data of the MAG instrument and the SCM data of LFR analyzer of the Solar Orbiter/RPW instrument. More specifically, it uses:
• solo_L2_mag-srf-burst (sampled at 64 Hz or 128 Hz)
• solo_L2_rpw-lfr-sbm2-cwf-b (sampled at 256 Hz)
• solo_L2_rpw-lfr-surv-cwf-b (only when sampled at 256 Hz)
• solo_L2_rpw-lfr-surv-swf-b (only snapshots at 256 Hz)
This data product has been produced following the method described in this article.
The magnetic field is expressed in the RTN frame of reference.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-f2565a8
| Type of data | Continuous waveform of the magnetic field |
|---|---|
| Unit | nT |
| Sampling rate | 256 Hz |
| Data format | CDF (3.9.0) |
| Granularity | 1 file per day |
Data organization
Table below gives the name, data type, units and description of the zVariables stored in the CDF file.
| NAME | TYPE | UNIT | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epoch | CDF_TIME_TT2000 | ns | Primary time used as a reference in the file. Corresponds to the time of the first sample of the snapshot. |
| B_SRF | CDF_REAL4[3] | nT | 3 entries array with magnetic field values (Bxsrf, Bysrf, Bzsrf) in SRF frame |
| MERGED_BITMASK | CDF_UINT1 | Origin of the merged data:
| |
| QUALITY_BITMASK | CDF_UINT2 | Flag to indicate any context or events that can alterate data
| |
| QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG | CDF_UINT2 | This is a bitwise variable, meaning that multiple flagscan be set for a single time, by adding flag values:
| |
| QUALITY_BITMASK_SCM | CDF_UINT2 | Flag to indicate any context or events that can alterate data:
| |
| QUALITY_FLAG | CDF_UINT1 | Flag to indicate the quality of the data from 0: Bad to 4: Excellent | |
| SAMPLING_RATE | CDF_REAL4 | Hz | Sampling frequency = 256 Hz |
| CARTESIAN_REPRESENTATION | CDF_CHAR[3] | Cartesian representation of a magnetic vector | |
| MAG_LABEL_SRF | CDF_CHAR[3] | Labels of the Magnetic fields components in the SRF frame = (Bxsrf, Bysrf, Bzsrf) | |
| MERGED_LABEL | CDF_CHAR[256] | Merged data in text form, indexed by MERGED_BITMASK (from 0 to 255) |
Caveats and known issues
Table below gives the list of main known issues and the actions taken to mitigate them.
Please read the CAVEATS global attribute entries in the CDF files to be aware of the possible issues and limitations concerning data.
| ISSUE | MITIGATION(S) |
|---|---|
| MAG L2 data is from inboard sensor | Bit0 of QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG is set to 1 |
| MAG time not synchronised with SC time | Bit1 of QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG is set to 1 |
| MAG heater operating | Bit2 of QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG is set to 1 |
| Interference tone were detected in MAG frequency range and removed from this MAG data point | Bit3 of QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG is set to 1 |
| Thrusters were firing and influence has been removed from this MAG data point | Bit4 of QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG is set to 1 |
| SC generated interference tones were detected in MAG data but not removed | Bit5 of QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG is set to 1 |
| Solar array movement occurred | Bit6 of QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG is set to 1 |
| Interference field signal from another instrument operation has been detected in MAG data and removed | Bit7 of QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG is set to 1 |
| The magnetic field is greatly disturbed when the SCM heaters are switched on and off. | When the heater signature could be located in the signal, it was subtracted before calibration, bit1 of QUALITY_BITMASK_SCM is set to 1 and QUALITY_FLAG is capped to 2 |
| LFR calibration signal is sometimes superimposed on the interplanetary magnetic field | bit2 of QUALITY_BITMASK_SCM is set to 1 and QUALITY_FLAG is capped to 2 |
| When the input MAG vector used is very short, the resulting data may be corrupted or lack precision. | bit0 of QUALITY_BITMASK is set to 1 and QUALITY_FLAG is capped to 2 |
| When MAG uses unexpected VECTOR_RANGE (0 or 1) it results in incorrect MAG calibration | bit1 of QUALITY_BITMASK is set to 1 and QUALITY_FLAG is capped to 2 |
| Interferences from spacecraft equipment are present above the sensitivity of SCM at 8 Hz, 16 Hz and harmonics. Other interferences can be noted at 1.3 Hz and harmonics | Peaks caused by these interferences are easily identifiable in the power spectrum |
Release notes
See MODS global attribute in the CDF files for an history of the data modifications.
Authors
Matthieu Kretzschmar and Jean-Yves Brochot.
References
• The Solar Orbiter Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument, Maksimovic et al., A&A, 2020 (https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936214)
• The Solar Orbiter magnetometer, T. S. Horbury et al., A&A, 2020
(https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201937257)
• Measurement of magnetic field fluctuations in the Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter missions., Jannet et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 2021 (https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA028543)
• The Solar Orbiter merged magnetic field, M. Kretzschmar et al, A&A, 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202554731)
• Metadata Definition for Solar Orbiter Science Data, Helen R. Middleton
• RPW Data Product Description Document (DPDD)
• RPW SCM Waveform Data User Manual
• NASA CDF Web portal
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