FAST DCF Key Parameters: Auroral Arc Electric and Magnetic Field Measurements

5-second spin-averaged survey data from the FAST satellite provides electric and magnetic field measurements within the low-altitude auroral arc region. The dataset includes magnetic field power spectral densities from 10 Hz to 4 kHz on two axes and up to 2 MHz on a third axis, as well as electric field power spectral densities for the same ranges. Data collection shifts from a slow survey mode with ~0.06 s resolution to a fast survey mode with ~0.5 ms resolution upon detecting auroral electron precipitation.

Use Cases

• Analyze auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) based on magnetic field measurements up to 2 MHz.
• Study wave structures and phenomena in the ELF and VLF frequency ranges based on three-axis searchcoil magnetometer data.
• Model auroral electron precipitation events based on the shift from slow to fast survey data modes.
• Calculate magnetic and electric field power spectral densities based on data provided between 10 Hz and 4 kHz.

Strengths

• Provides high-resolution data with a fast survey mode offering ~0.5 ms temporal resolution.
• Includes magnetic field measurements with a frequency-dependent sensitivity between 10^-8 and 10^-10 nT^2/Hz.
• Data is sourced from the NASA FAST satellite mission, a recognized authority in space science.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected by the FAST satellite's three-axis searchcoil magnetometer and electric field instruments.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 07:16:40.780708; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Low altitude auroral arc region.