Observations of whistler mode waves by Solar Orbiter’s RPW Low Frequency Receiver (LFR): In-flight performance and first results
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Context.The Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument is one of the four in situ instruments of the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter mission, which was successfully launched on February 10, 2020. The Low Frequency Receiver (LFR) is one of its subsystems, designed to characterize the low frequency electric (quasi-DC – 10 kHz) and magnetic (∼1 Hz–10 kHz) fields that develop, propagate, interact, and dissipate in the solar wind plasma. Combined with observations of the particles and the DC magnetic field, LFR measurements will help to improve the understanding of the heating and acceleration processes at work during solar wind expansion. Aims.The capability of LFR to observe and analyze a variety of low frequency plasma waves can be demontrated by taking advantage of whistler mode wave observations made just after the near-Earth commissioning phase of Solar Orbiter. In particular, this is related to its capability of measuring the wave normal vector, the phase velocity, and the Poynting vector for determining the propagation characteristics of the waves. Methods.Several case studies of whistler mode waves are presented, using all possible LFR onboard digital processing products, waveforms, spectral matrices, and basic wave parameters. Results.Here, we show that whistler mode waves can be very properly identified and characterized, along with their Doppler-shifted frequency, based on the waveform capture as well as on the LFR onboard spectral analysis. Conclusions.Despite the fact that calibrations of the electric and magnetic data still require some improvement, these first whistler observations show a good overall consistency between the RPW LFR data, indicating that many science results on these waves, as well as on other plasma waves, can be obtained by Solar Orbiter in the solar wind.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: T. Chust, M. Kretzschmar, D. B. Graham, O. Le Contel, A. Retinò, A. Alexandrova, M. Berthomier, L. Z. Hadid, F. Sahraoui, A. Jeandet, P. Leroy, J.-C. Pellion, V. Bouzid, B. Katra, R. Piberne, Yu. V. Khotyaintsev, A. Vaivads, V. Krasnoselskikh, J. Souček, O. Santolík, E. Lorfèvre, D. Plettemeier, M. Steller, Š. Štverák, P. Trávníček, A. Vecchio, M. Maksimovic, S. D. Bale, T. S. Horbury, H. O’Brien, V. Evans, V. Angelini
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Polytechnique, Université Paris-Saclay, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, Université d'Orléans, Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environnement et de l’Espace, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Charles University, Centre National d'Études Spatiales, Technische Universität Dresden, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Radboud University Nijmegen, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique, Stellar Science (United States), Imperial College London
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
OpenAlex ID: W3182204448