BARREL 3A: Fast Time Resolution Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectra

Six channels of fast time resolution, 50 ms, Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra detected with a NaI Scintillator, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV. The BARREL Mission was a NASA Living with a Star Mission of Opportunity, launching over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden between 2013 and 2016 to study electron losses from Earth's Radiation Belts.

Use Cases

• Analyze electron precipitation events based on six-channel X-ray spectra (FSPC1a-FSPC4)
• Study spatial and temporal variations of radiation belt losses based on balloon constellation data
• Characterize the spatial scale of precipitation at relativistic energies based on multi-year campaign observations

Strengths

• Fast time resolution of 50 milliseconds per measurement
• Six spectral channels covering a nominal energy range from 0 MeV to 1.5 MeV
• Data collected from over 50 balloon flights across four campaigns spanning 2013 to 2016

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by X-ray spectrometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:38:03.074854; freshness should be verified

Geography

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