BARREL 4G X-ray Spectrometer: Bremsstrahlung X-ray Spectrum Data from Balloon Campaigns

BARREL 4G X-ray Spectrometer data provides 256-channel Bremsstrahlung X-ray spectra with 32-second time resolution, covering an energy range from 0 MeV to 10 MeV. The dataset was collected by NASA's BARREL mission, which launched over 50 stratospheric balloons from Antarctica and Sweden during campaigns from 2013 to 2016. It was designed to study relativistic electron precipitation from Earth's radiation belts in coordination with the Van Allen Probes mission.

Use Cases

• Analyzing temporal variations in electron precipitation based on 32-second time resolution X-ray spectra.
• Characterizing the spatial scale of relativistic electron precipitation based on multi-balloon array observations.
• Correlating balloon-based X-ray measurements with in-situ plasma wave and particle data from the Van Allen Probes.
• Studying the energy spectrum of precipitating electrons based on the 256-channel energy coverage from 0 to 10 MeV.

Strengths

• Data covers four distinct balloon campaigns from 2013 to 2016, providing multi-year observations.
• Spectra are captured across 256 energy channels, suggesting detailed energy resolution.
• Observations were coordinated with the Van Allen Probes mission and other ground-based instruments like EISCAT.

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 and DC magnetometers carried on stratospheric balloons.

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 11:24:14.465670; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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