The solo_L3_multi-mag-rpw-scm-merged-srf-4096 data provides the merged magnetic field continuous waveforms of the three components from continuous up to 2048 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

Data product key facts
Type of data Continuous waveform of the magnetic field
Unit nT
Sampling rate 4096 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.

NAMETYPEUNITDESCRIPTION
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:

  • bit0: solo_L2_rpw-lfr-surv-swf-b sampled at 256 Hz
  • bit2: solo_L2_rpw-lfr-surv-cwf-b sampled at 256 Hz
  • bit3: solo_L2_rpw-lfr-sbm2-cwf-b sampled at 256 Hz
  • bit6: solo_L2_mag-srf-burst sampled at 64 Hz
  • bit7: solo_L2_mag-srf-burst sampled at 128 Hz.
QUALITY_BITMASK CDF_UINT2 Flag to indicate any context or events that can alterate data

  • bit0: a very short input MAG vector was used, resampling may introduce artifacts
  • bit1: unexpected VECTOR_RANGE (0 or 1), incorrect MAG calibration
QUALITY_BITMASK_MAG CDF_UINT2 This is a bitwise variable, meaning that multiple flagscan be set for a single time, by adding flag values:

  • bit0: INBOARDPRIMARY, L2 data is from inboard sensor
  • bit1: SCETUNSYNC, instrument time not synchronised with SC time
  • bit2: MAGHEATERON, MAG heater operating
  • bit3: TONEREMOVED, interference tones were detected and removed from this data point
  • bit4: THRUSTERREMOVED thrusters were firing and influence has been removed from this data point
  • bit5: SCINTERFERENCE, SC generated interference detected but not removed
  • bit6: SAMOVEMENT, solar array movement occurred
  • bit7: INSTRUMENTREMOVED, interference field signal from another instrument operation has been detected and removed; Refer to [RD1] for more information on how these flags are generated.
QUALITY_BITMASK_SCM CDF_UINT2 Flag to indicate any context or events that can alterate data:

  • bit0: SCM outworking or unknown temperature
  • bit1: SCM heater on/off transition
  • bit2: LFR onboard calibration signal
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 = 4096 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.

ISSUEMITIGATION(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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