The Cluster Magnetic Field Investigation: overview of in-flight performance and initial results
</b>The accurate measurement of the magnetic field along the orbits of the four Cluster spacecraft is a primary objective of the mission. The magnetic field is a key constituent of the plasma in and around the magnetosphere, and it plays an active role in all physical processes that de...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2001-09-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/19/1207/2001/angeo-19-1207-2001.pdf |
| Summary: | </b>The accurate measurement
of the magnetic field along the orbits of the four Cluster spacecraft is a
primary objective of the mission. The magnetic field is a key constituent of
the plasma in and around the magnetosphere, and it plays an active role in all
physical processes that define the structure and dynamics of magnetospheric
phenomena on all scales. With the four-point measurements on Cluster, it has
become possible to study the three-dimensional aspects of space plasma
phenomena on scales commeasurable with the size of the spacecraft
constellation, and to distinguish temporal and spatial dependences of
small-scale processes. We present an overview of the instrumentation used to
measure the magnetic field on the four Cluster spacecraft and an overview the
performance of the operational modes used in flight. We also report on the
results of the preliminary in-orbit calibration of the magnetometers; these
results show that all components of the magnetic field are measured with an
accuracy approaching 0.1 nT. Further data analysis is expected to bring an even
more accurate determination of the calibration parameters. Several examples of
the capabilities of the investigation are presented from the commissioning
phase of the mission, and from the different regions visited by the spacecraft
to date: the tail current sheet, the dusk side magnetopause and magnetosheath,
the bow shock and the cusp. We also describe the data processing flow and the
implementation of data distribution to other Cluster investigations and to the
scientific community in general.<br><br><b>Key words. </b>Interplanetary physics
(instruments and techniques) – magnetospheric physics (magnetospheric
configuration and dynamics) – space plasma physics (shock waves) |
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| ISSN: | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |