DE-1 PWI: Plasma Wave Electric and Magnetic Field Spectral Density from Satellite

Two Dynamics Explorer spacecraft were launched August 3, 1981, into polar orbits. The calibrated, full-resolution data from the DE-1 Plasma Wave Instrument's Step Frequency Correlator measures electric and magnetic field spectral density from 100 Hz to 400 kHz. The instrument was built by The University of Iowa in collaboration with Stanford University's STAR Laboratory.

Use Cases

• Analyze auroral kilometric radiation patterns based on calibrated electric field measurements.
• Study wave-particle interactions based on spectral density data from paired antenna combinations.
• Investigate equatorial ion cyclotron emissions based on magnetic field amplitude measurements.
• Model magnetospheric plasma wave phenomena based on data from a highly elliptical polar orbit.

Strengths

• Data is calibrated and at full resolution.
• Covers a frequency range from 100 Hz to 400 kHz.
• Measurements come from five distinct sensor types, including long wire and tubular electric antennas.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Phase data are not provided in these datasets.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by the DE-1 spacecraft's Plasma Wave Instrument (PWI) Step Frequency Correlator.

Time Range

Data collection began after the August 3, 1981 launch; specific end date is unknown.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 07:40:27.704254; freshness should be verified

Geography

Spatial coverage is along the DE-1 spacecraft's highly elliptical polar orbit.