Data Description

This page summarizes information about the selected resource and its origin based on SPASE metadata.

Table of Contents

  1. Product
  2. Repository
  3. Instrument
  4. Observatory
  5. Persons

SPASE version 1.3.0

Numerical Data Product: Polar TIMAS H2 Level 1 Ion Upflowing Fluxes Data

Resource ID
spase://VMO/NumericalData/POLAR/TIMAS/H2_PT12S Get XML
Name
Polar TIMAS H2 Level 1 Ion Upflowing Fluxes Data
Description

H+, O+, He+ and He++ upflowing fluxes and statistical uncertainties processed by the TIMAS science team.These data were used in preparing several papers, see Information URLs.

Includes also non-TIMAS Data: UT, altitude, invariant latitude, L shell, magnetic local time, geomagnetic latitude (signed - n/s hemisphere), average magnetic field vector in GSM coordinates at Polar (uses KH's co-ord conversion code), spacecraft potential from EFI data base, solar zenith angles at each end of the field line, time delayed solar wind parameters from WIND (Using KH's database) interpolated across data gaps of less than 10 minutes, IMF in GSM, solar wind dynamic pressure (nPa), solar wind density (/cc), solar wind velocity (km/sec).

This is a summary data base.It does not contain detailed energy step and pitch angle information for each data point. Extends over all altitudes, invariant latitudes and MLT. Below altitude of 4.0 Re 2 spin resolution (12s), above altitude of 4.0 Re 4 spin resolution (24s).

Reference:E.G. Shelley et al., The Toroidal Imaging Mass-Angle Spectrograph (TIMAS) for the Polar Mission, Sp. Sci. Rev, Vol 71, pp 497-530, 1995.

Additional information
TIMAS Home Page
H1 and H2 High Resolution Data Products
Description of H1/H2 database
Description of the data base included in this data set
IDL code to read the po_h2_v01 data files and display them
Peterson et al., JGR 2008
Solar-minimum quiet-time ion energization and outflow in dynamic boundary related coordinates, W.K. Peterson, L. Andersson, B.C. Callahan, H.L. Collin, J.D. Scudder, and A.W. Yau, To appear in J. Geophys. Res., 2008.
Peterson et al., JGR 2006
Quiet time solar illumination effects on the fluxes and characteristic energies of ionospheric outflow, W.K. Peterson, H.L. Collin, O.W. Lennartsson and A.W. Yau, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A11S05, doi:10.1029/2005JA011596, 2006.
Lennartson et al. JGR, 2004
Solar wind control of Earth's H+ and O+ outflow rates in the 15-eV to 33-keV energy range, O.W Lennartsson, W.K. Peterson, and H.L. Collin, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 109, No. A12, A12212 10.1029/2004JA010690, 15 December 2004.
Peterson et al., JGR, 2001
Polar/TIMAS Observations of Suprathermal Ion Outflow During Solar Minimum Conditions, W.K. Peterson, H.L. Collin, A.W. Yau, and O.W. Lennartsson, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 6059, 2001.
Collin et al., GRL, 1998
The Seasonal Variation of Auroral Ion Beams, H.L. Collin, W.K. Peterson, O.W. Lennartsson, and J.F. Drake, Geophysical Research Letters, 25, 4071, 1998.
Contact
Role Person
1. Principal investigator Dr. W. K. Peterson Get XML
Release date
2008-01-07 22:07:51
Repository
Name
LASP TIMAS H2 Data Repository Get XML
Availability
Online
Access rights
Open
URL
http://lasp.colorado.edu/timas/h12-data/h2-data/
FTP repository of Polar TIMAS key parameter data in CDF format at CDAWeb
Processing level
Calibrated
Provider processing level
Level 1
Provider version
v_01
Instrument
Toroidal Imaging Mass-Angle Spectrograph (TIMAS) Get XML
Measurement type
EnergeticParticles
IonComposition
Spectrum
ThermalPlasma
Temporal description
Start date
1996-03-17 00:00:00
Stop date
1998-12-09 00:00:00
Cadence
12 seconds
Observed regions
Earth.Magnetosphere
Earth.Magnetosphere.Polar
Earth.Magnetosphere.RadiationBelt
Caveats

Several compromises were made in assembling the data base. In particular background subtraction, short averaging intervals and the normally low count rates for minor ions (O+, He+, and He++) lead to many data intervals where the data values reported are not statistically significant. The data files therefore contain many diagnostic parameters and data quality flags.

Keywords
Energetic Ion Mass-Energy Spectra
Net outflowing number flux
Input resource ID
spase://VMO/NumericalData/POLAR/TIMAS/H0_PT12S
spase://VHO/NumericalData/WIND/MFI/v4_PT03S
spase://VHO/NumericalData/WIND/SWE/apbimax
spase://VMO/NumericalData/POLAR/MFE/PT06S
POLAR EFI
↑

Parameters

Parameter #1

Name
Center Epoch for H_Fluence
Parameter key
H_Epoch
Description

NSSDC standard-reference time value at the center of the accumulation interval.

Caveats

Center epoch (milliseconds since 0 AD of variable accumulation intervals for H+

Units
ms
Conversion to SI units
1e-3>s
Valid minimum
17-Mar-1996 00:00:00.000
Valid maximum
08-Dec-1998 23:59:59.999
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #2

Name
Center Epoch for O_Fluence
Parameter key
O_Epoch
Description

NSSDC standard-reference time value at the center of the accumulation interval.

Caveats

Center epoch (milliseconds since 0 AD of variable accumulation intervals for O+

Units
ms
Conversion to SI units
1e-3>s
Valid minimum
17-Mar-1996 00:00:00.000
Valid maximum
08-Dec-1998 23:59:59.999
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #3

Name
Center Epoch for He1_Fluence
Parameter key
He1_Epoch
Description

NSSDC standard-reference time value at the center of the accumulation interval.

Caveats

Center epoch (milliseconds since 0 AD of variable accumulation intervals for He+

Units
ms
Conversion to SI units
1e-3>s
Valid minimum
17-Mar-1996 00:00:00.000
Valid maximum
08-Dec-1998 23:59:59.999
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #4

Name
Center Epoch for He2_Fluence
Parameter key
He2_Epoch
Description

NSSDC standard-reference time value at the center of the accumulation interval.

Caveats

Center epoch (milliseconds since 0 AD of variable accumulation intervals for He++

Units
ms
Conversion to SI units
1e-3>s
Valid minimum
17-Mar-1996 00:00:00.000
Valid maximum
08-Dec-1998 23:59:59.999
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #5

Name
H+ Fluence
Parameter key
H_Fluence
Description

H+ Fluence (upward directed flux) at the altitude measured (R) with loss cone correction.

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude! Negative flux values correspond to downflowing fluxes.

Units
#/cm^2-sec
Valid minimum
-1.0E10
Valid maximum
1.0E10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
NumberFlux
Qualifier
Differential
AtomicNumber
1
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #6

Name
O+ Fluence
Parameter key
O_Fluence
Description

O+ Fluence (upward directed flux) at the altitude measured (R) with loss cone correction.

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude! Negative flux values correspond to downflowing fluxes.

Units
#/cm^2-sec
Valid minimum
-1.0E10
Valid maximum
1.0E10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
NumberFlux
Qualifier
Differential
AtomicNumber
8
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #7

Name
He+ Fluence
Parameter key
He1_Fluence
Description

He+ Fluence (upward directed flux) at the altitude measured (R) with loss cone correction.

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude! Negative flux values correspond to downflowing fluxes.

Units
#/cm^2-sec
Valid minimum
-1.0E10
Valid maximum
1.0E10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
NumberFlux
Qualifier
Differential
AtomicNumber
2
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #8

Name
He++ Fluence
Parameter key
He2_Fluence
Description

He++ Fluence (upward directed flux) at the altitude measured (R) with loss cone correction.

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude! Negative flux values correspond to downflowing fluxes.

Units
#/cm^2-sec
Valid minimum
-1.0E10
Valid maximum
1.0E10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
NumberFlux
Qualifier
Differential
AtomicNumber
2
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #9

Name
H+ 1 Sigma Fluence
Parameter key
H_sigma
Description

One standard deviation (sigma) of H+ fluence at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
% of H+ Fluence
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
128.0
Fill value
128.0
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
NumberFlux
Qualifier
StandardDeviation
Differential
AtomicNumber
1
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #10

Name
O+ 1 Sigma Fluence
Parameter key
O_sigma
Description

One standard deviation (sigma) of O+ fluence at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
% of O+ Fluence
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
128.0
Fill value
128.0
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
NumberFlux
Qualifier
StandardDeviation
Differential
AtomicNumber
8
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #11

Name
He+ 1 Sigma Fluence
Parameter key
He1_sigma
Description

One standard deviation (sigma) of O+ fluence at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
% of He1 Fluence
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
128.0
Fill value
128.0
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
NumberFlux
Qualifier
StandardDeviation
Differential
AtomicNumber
2
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #12

Name
He++ 1 Sigma Fluence
Parameter key
He2_sigma
Description

One standard deviation (sigma) of He++ fluence at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
% of He2 Fluence
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
128.0
Fill value
128.0
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
NumberFlux
Qualifier
StandardDeviation
Differential
AtomicNumber
2
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #13

Name
H+ E_Flux
Parameter key
H_Eflux
Description

Net H+ energy flux at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
keV/cm^2-sec
Valid minimum
-1.0E10
Valid maximum
1.0E10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
EnergyFlux
AtomicNumber
1
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #14

Name
O+ E_Flux
Parameter key
O_Eflux
Description

Net O+ energy flux at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
keV/cm^2-sec
Valid minimum
-1.0E10
Valid maximum
1.0E10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
EnergyFlux
AtomicNumber
8
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #15

Name
He+ E_Flux
Parameter key
He1_Eflux
Description

Net He+ energy flux at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
keV/cm^2-sec
Valid minimum
-1.0E10
Valid maximum
1.0E10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
EnergyFlux
AtomicNumber
2
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #16

Name
He++ E_Flux
Parameter key
He2_Eflux
Description

Net He++ energy flux at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
keV/cm^2-sec
Valid minimum
-1.0E10
Valid maximum
1.0E10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
EnergyFlux
AtomicNumber
2
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #17

Name
H+ 1 Sigma E-Flux
Parameter key
H_efluxsigma
Description

One standard deviation (sigma) of H+ energy flux at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
% of H+ E-Flux
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
128.0
Fill value
128.0
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
EnergyFlux
AtomicNumber
1
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #18

Name
O+ 1 Sigma E-Flux
Parameter key
O_efluxsigma
Description

One standard deviation (sigma) of O+ energy flux at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
% of O+ E-Flux
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
128.0
Fill value
128.0
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
EnergyFlux
AtomicNumber
8
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #19

Name
He+ 1 Sigma E-Flux
Parameter key
He1_efluxsigma
Description

One standard deviation (sigma) of He+ energy flux at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
% of He+ E-Flux
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
128.0
Fill value
128.0
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
EnergyFlux
AtomicNumber
2
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #20

Name
He++ 1 Sigma E-Flux
Parameter key
He2_efluxsigma
Description

One standard deviation (sigma) of He++ energy flux at the altitude measured (R)

Caveats

For statistical studies normalize to a standard altitude!

Units
% of He++ E-Flux
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
128.0
Fill value
128.0
Particle type
Ion
Quantity
EnergyFlux
AtomicNumber
2
Energy range
Low energy
16.0
High energy
33298.0
Units
eV/e

Parameter #21

Name
Spins Accumulatated for H+ values
Parameter key
H_spins
Description

Number of spins accumulated for H+

Caveats

Number of spins of data accumulated for H+ .

Units
# of spins
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
32
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #22

Name
Spins Accumulatated for O+ values
Parameter key
O_spins
Description

Number of spins accumulated for O+

Caveats

Number of spins of data accumulated for O+ .

Units
# of spins
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
32
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #23

Name
Spins Accumulatated for He+ values
Parameter key
He1_spins
Description

Number of spins accumulated for He+

Caveats

Number of spins of data accumulated for He+ .

Units
# of spins
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
32
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #24

Name
Spins Accumulatated for He++ values
Parameter key
He2_spins
Description

Number of spins accumulated for He++

Caveats

Number of spins of data accumulated for He++ .

Units
# of spins
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
32
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #25

Name
SZA
Parameter key
SZA
Description

Solar Zenith angle at the magnetic foot point

Caveats

Check the SZA_status flag

Units
degrees
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
180
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #26

Name
Conjugate SZA
Parameter key
Conjugate_SZA
Description

Solar Zenith angle at the Conjugate magnetic foot point

Caveats

Check the Conjugate_SZA_status flag

Units
degrees
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
180
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #27

Name
SZA Status
Parameter key
SZA_status
Description

Quality of the solar zenith angle (SZA) values: 0=good, 99=invalid

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #28

Name
Conjugate SZA Status
Parameter key
Conjugate_SZA_status
Description

Quality of the conjugate solar zenith angle (SZA) values: 0=good, 99=invalid

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #29

Name
H+ Quality Flag
Parameter key
H_quality
Description

A quality flag in the range 0-99 with the following values/meanings:

0 OK. 1 Some data missing. 2 more than 5% data missing 3 not used. 4 not used. 5 Warning flags set. 6 not used. 9 Invalid pitch angles 99 No valid data.

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #30

Name
O+ Quality Flag
Parameter key
O_quality
Description

A quality flag in the range 0-99 with the following values/meanings:

0 OK. 1 Some data missing. 2 more than 5% data missing 3 not used. 4 not used. 5 Warning flags set. 6 not used. 9 Invalid pitch angles 99 No valid data.

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #31

Name
He+ Quality Flag
Parameter key
He1_quality
Description

A quality flag in the range 0-99 with the following values/meanings:

0 OK. 1 Some data missing. 2 more than 5% data missing 3 not used. 4 not used. 5 Warning flags set. 6 not used. 9 Invalid pitch angles 99 No valid data.

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #32

Name
He++ Quality Flag
Parameter key
He2_quality
Description

A quality flag in the range 0-99 with the following values/meanings:

0 OK. 1 Some data missing. 2 more than 5% data missing 3 not used. 4 not used. 5 Warning flags set. 6 not used. 9 Invalid pitch angles 99 No valid data.

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #33

Name
Geocentric Distance
Parameter key
R
Description

Geocentric Distance

Units
Re
Conversion to SI units
6.370e6>m
Coordinate system
Spherical SM
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #34

Name
L parameter
Parameter key
L
Description

MacIlwain L Parameter

Units
Re
Conversion to SI units
6.370e6>m
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
10
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #35

Name
MLT
Parameter key
MLT
Description

Magnetic Local Time

Units
Hours
Conversion to SI units
15>deg
Coordinate system
Spherical SM
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
25
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #36

Name
LT
Parameter key
LocT
Description

Local Time

Units
Hours
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
25
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Temporal

Parameter #37

Name
Mlat
Parameter key
Mlat
Description

Magnetic Latitude

Units
deg
Coordinate system
Spherical SM
Valid minimum
-90.0
Valid maximum
90.0
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #38

Name
INVL
Parameter key
ILA
Description

Invariant Latitude

Units
deg
Coordinate system
Spherical CGM
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
1000.0
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #39

Name
B
Parameter key
MagField
Description

Average magnetic field vector in GSM coordinates at Polar (Uses KH's co-ord conversion code).

Caveats

3 components are GSM -X, -Y, and -Z

Units
nT
Conversion to SI units
1e-9>T
Coordinate system
Cartesian GSM
Structure
Size
3
Elements
Index Name Component Valid min Valid max Fill value
1 -Bx X -100000.0 100000.0 -1.0E31
2 -By Y -100000.0 100000.0 -1.0E31
3 -Bz Z -100000.0 100000.0 -1.0E31
Quantity
Magnetic
Qualifier
Average
Vector

Parameter #40

Name
SC Potential
Parameter key
SC_Potential
Description

Space craft potential from EFI

Caveats

This Variable has not been extensively validated ... use with caution.

Units
V
Valid minimum
-50.0
Valid maximum
100.0
Fill value
-1.0E31
Quantity
Potential

Parameter #41

Name
IMF
Parameter key
Imf_Gsm
Description

Time delayed Wind IFM Magnetic Field from WIND spacecraft in GSM Coordinates

Units
nT
Conversion to SI units
1e-9>T
Coordinate system
Cartesian GSM
Structure
Size
3
Elements
Index Name Component Valid min Valid max Fill value
1 IMF Bx X -100000.0 1000.0 -1.0E31
2 IMF By Y -100000.0 1000.0 -1.0E31
3 IMF Bz Z -100000.0 1000.0 -1.0E31
Quantity
Magnetic
Qualifier
Average
Vector

Parameter #42

Name
SW Pressure
Parameter key
SW_pressure
Description

Time lagged solar wind dynamic pressure from WIND observations

Units
nPa
Conversion to SI units
1e-9>Pa
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
100
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Pressure

Parameter #43

Name
SW density
Parameter key
SW_density
Description

Time lagged solar wind density from WIND observations

Units
#/cc
Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
100
Fill value
-1.0E31
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
NumberDensity

Parameter #44

Name
V
Parameter key
SW_velocity
Description

Time lagged Solar wind velocity from WIND in GSM Coordinates

Units
km/s
Conversion to SI units
1e3>m/s
Coordinate system
Cartesian GSM
Structure
Size
3
Elements
Index Name Component Valid min Valid max Fill value
1 Vx X -700.0 700.0 -1.0E31
2 Vy Y -700.0 700.0 -1.0E31
3 Vz Z -700.0 700.0 -1.0E31
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Velocity

Parameter #45

Name
FEC counts
Parameter key
Fec
Description

Average counts per spin in the fast event counter

Caveats

The TIMAS detector has a non linear response at high count rates that is, to some extent corrected for in the software that generated the data here. The correction, however introduces some uncertainty. The FEC count rate is carried as an indication of the corrections applied to the raw data.

Units
Counts per spin
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
1.0E8
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #46

Name
Background counts
Parameter key
Bcr
Description

Average background counts per spin

Units
Counts per spin
Valid minimum
0.0
Valid maximum
1.0E8
Fill value
-1.0E31
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #47

Name
Energy Range
Parameter key
Energy_range
Description

TIMAS is operated in one of 3 energy ranges. Energy_Range ID indicates which of the 3 instrumental energy ranges is currently active. Energy Range Identification: 0: Full energy range; 1: Reduced energy range; 2: Low energy range

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
3
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #48

Name
Hzero Intervals
Parameter key
Intervals
Description

# of intervals in the po_H0_tim data file included in the average reported here. These values should be compared with X_spins where = H, O He1 and He2

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
16
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #49

Name
SCPot Status
Parameter key
SCPot_status
Description

Quality of the SC potential value obtained from EFI: 0=good 99=invalid

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #50

Name
IMF_status
Parameter key
IMF_status
Description

Quality of the IMF_status values: 0=good 99=invalid

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #51

Name
SW Status
Parameter key
SW_status
Description

Quality of the SW data: 0=good 99=invalid

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #52

Name
Mag Status
Parameter key
Mag_status
Description

Quality of the Polar magnetometer data: 0=good 99=invalid

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #53

Name
Orbit Status
Parameter key
Orbit_status
Description

Quality of the Polar ephemeris data: 0=good 99=invalid

Valid minimum
0
Valid maximum
99
Fill value
255
Parameter type
Other
↑

SPASE version 1.3.0

Instrument: Toroidal Imaging Mass-Angle Spectrograph (TIMAS)

Instrument ID
spase://SMWG/Instrument/POLAR/TIMAS Get XML
Name
Toroidal Imaging Mass-Angle Spectrograph (TIMAS)
Alternate name
TIMAS
1996-013A-01
Description

This investigation onboard POLAR spacecraft utilizes a toroidal ion mass spectrograph (TIMS) to fulfill its objectives, which are to study (1) the properties, location, and morphology of the principal source region for the entry of solar wind plasma into the magnetosphere, i.e., the polar cusp; (2) the properties, location, and morphology of the principal source region for hot ionospheric plasma in the magnetosphere, i.e., the auroral acceleration region; (3) the details of the processes by which the source plasmas are injected into trapped orbits, with special emphasis on the mass dependence of these processes; (4) details of the processes by which relatively cool source plasmas are energized into hot plasma, with special emphasis on the mass dependence of these processes; and (5) the details of the processes by which the hot magnetospheric plasma are lost, for example through wave-particle scattering and charge exchange, with special emphasis on the mass dependence of these processes.

The Toroidal Imaging Mass-Angle Spectrograph (TIMAS) instrument measures the full three-dimensional velocity distribution functions of all major magnetospheric ion species with one-half spin period time resolution. The TIMAS is a first order double focusing (angle and energy), imaging spectrograph that simultaneously measures all mass per charge components from 1 AMU/e to greater than 32 AMU/e over a nearly 360 degrees by 10 degree instantaneous field-of-view in 20 milliseconds. Mass per charge is dispersed radially on an anular microchannel plate detector and the azimuthal position on the detector is a map of the instantaneous 360 degrees field of view. With the rotation of the spacecraft, the TIMAS sweeps out a 4pi solid angle image in a half spin period. The energy per charge range from 15eV/e to 32 keV/e is covered in 28 non-contiguous steps spaced approximately logarithmically with adjacent steps separated by about 30%. In order to handle the large volume of data within the telemetry limitations the distributions are compressed to varying degrees in angle and energy, log-count compressed and then further compressed by a lossless technique. This data processing task is supported by two SA3300 microprocessors. The voltages (up to + 5 kV) for the tandem toroidal electrostatic analyzers are supplied from common high voltage supplies using optically controlled series-shunt regulators.

Additional information
Full instrument description
Full and detailed descriptions of the TIMAS instrument goals, design and calibration (written in 1996).
NSSDC's Master Catalog
Information about the Toroidal Imaging Mass-Angle Spectrograph (TIMAS) experiment on the POLAR mission.
Contact
Role Person
1. Principal investigator Dr. W. K. Peterson Get XML
Release date
2008-06-19 15:34:36
Instrument type
EnergeticParticleInstrument
MassSpectrometer
Investigation name
Toroidal Imaging Mass-Angle Spectrograph (TIMAS) on Polar
Observatory
POLAR Get XML
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SPASE version 1.3.0

Observatory: POLAR

Observatory ID
spase://SMWG/Observatory/POLAR Get XML
Name
POLAR
Alternate name
Polar Plasma Laboratory
GGS/Polar
ISTP/Polar
Description

POLAR is one of four spacecraft in the Global Geospace Science (GGS) program. These are among the six spacecraft in the International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) program. POLAR provides multi-wavelength imaging of the aurora, measuring plasma entry into the polar magnetosphere and geomagnetic tail, the flow of plasmas to and from the ionosphere, and the deposition of particle energy in the ionosphere and upper atmosphere. POLAR has on-board propulsion systems and a design lifetime of three to five years, with redundant subsystems. POLAR is cylindrical, approximately 2.8 m in diameter by 1.25 m high (plus 1.25 m for its two despun platforms), with body-mounted solar cells, weighs 1250 kg and uses 333 W of power. The spin rate is 10 rpm around an axis approximately normal to the orbital plane. It has long wire spin-plane antennas, inertial booms, and spin-plane appendages to support sensors. POLAR has two despun gimbaled instrument platforms, and booms are deployed along both Z axes. Data are stored using on-board tape recorders and are relayed to the Deep Space Network at 600 kbps maximum (250 kbps nominal) although the average real-time data rate for POLAR is 41.6 kbps. POLAR has a 22.6-h polar orbit (90 deg inclination), with perigee and apogee of 11,500 and 57,000 km. Polar was launched to observe the polar magnetosphere and, as its orbit has precessed with time, has observed the equatorial inner magnetosphere and is now carrying out an extended period of southern hemisphere coverage. Details on the POLAR mission and instrumentation are provided in Space Science Reviews (Vol. 71, Nos. 1-4, 1995) and reprinted in The Global Geospace Mission, edited by C. T. Russell (Kluwer, 1995).

Additional information
NASA Polar Project
Web site of NASA Polar Mission, including overview, data products, FTP to the data, publications, educational outreach, orbits, instrument descriptions, contacts, news archive, and ISTP archive.
NSSDC's Master Catalog
Information about the Polar mission
Contact
Role Person
1. Project scientist Dr. John B. Sigwarth Get XML
Release date
2008-12-03 20:36:40
Prior ID
spase://vspo/observatory/67
Location
Region
Earth.Magnetosphere
Earth.Magnetosphere.Polar
Earth.Magnetosphere.RadiationBelt
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SPASE version 1.3.0

Person: Dr. W. K. Peterson

Name
Dr. W. K. Peterson
Organization
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics LASP, University of Colorado
Email
Bill.Peterson@lasp.colorado.edu
Phone
(303) 492-0686
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/W.K.Peterson Get XML
Release date
2008-06-10 16:06:25
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SPASE version 1.3.0

Person: Dr. John B. Sigwarth

Name
Dr. John B. Sigwarth
Organization
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Address
NASA/GSFC, Code 674, Greenbelt, MD 20771
Email
pwg_project@nssdc.nasa.gov
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/John.B.Sigwarth Get XML
Release date
2007-12-04 23:11:21
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SPASE version 1.3.0

Repository: LASP TIMAS H2 Data Repository

Repository ID
spase://SMWG/Repository/UCOLO/LASP/TIMAS_H2 Get XML
Name
LASP TIMAS H2 Data Repository
Description

The TIMAS Science Team's data base of TIMAS H2 data

Additional information
H1 and H2 High Resolution Data Products
Contact
Role Person
1. Principal investigator Dr. W. K. Peterson Get XML
Release date
2008-08-26 21:18:47
Prior ID
spase://VMO/Repository/LASP_TIMAS_H2
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