BARREL 1H X-ray Spectrometer: Fast Time Resolution Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra

Four channels of fast time resolution, 50 ms, Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV. The data was collected by the NASA BARREL mission, which launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts. Observations were made at stratospheric altitudes near 30 km to measure X-rays produced by precipitating relativistic electrons.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on the 50 ms fast time resolution X-ray spectra.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on multi-balloon array observations.
• Correlating balloon X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes mission.
• Studying the energy spectrum of bremsstrahlung X-rays based on the four channels covering 0-1.5 MeV.

Strengths

• Provides 50 ms time resolution across four spectral channels, enabling detailed temporal analysis.
• Data collection spanned four campaigns from 2013 to 2016, involving over 50 balloon launches for spatial and temporal coverage.
• Mission was designed to coordinate with the comprehensive Van Allen Probes satellite measurements.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics for FSPC1-4 must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale statistical analysis.
• Data files are in specialized formats (BIN, PDF, TEXT, HTML), which may require specific tools for processing.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers and DC magnetometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

Campaigns conducted in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 04:22:54.941985; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Balloon launches from Halley Bay and SANAE IV base in Antarctica, and the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden.