MMS 4 SCM: AC Magnetic Field Waveforms at 16384 Samples/Second

NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission provides tri-axial AC magnetic field measurements from the Search Coil Magnetometer. The data includes high-speed burst mode waveforms at 16384 samples per second, calibrated at the National Magnetic Observatory and processed via onboard digital signal processors. This Level 2 dataset contains magnetic field fluctuations in nanoTesla within the GSE coordinate frame.

Use Cases

• Analyze wave-particle interactions in Earth's magnetosphere based on high-frequency magnetic field waveforms.
• Model plasma wave propagation and turbulence based on tri-axial magnetic field fluctuation data.
• Validate and calibrate magnetospheric simulation models based on in-situ, high-sample-rate magnetic measurements.
• Study magnetic reconnection events and associated wave activity based on burst mode data from scientific regions of interest.

Strengths

• Data is sampled at a high rate of 16384 samples per second, suitable for capturing rapid magnetic field fluctuations.
• Instruments were calibrated at the National Magnetic Observatory, Chambon-la-Foret, and undergo regular onboard calibration checks.
• Data is processed to Level 2, indicating a defined level of calibration and validation.
• Provides tri-axial measurements, enabling three-dimensional analysis of magnetic field waves.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is provided in a BIN format, which may require specialized tools or libraries for access and processing.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Measured by the tri-axial Search-Coil Magnetometer on the MMS spacecraft, digitized and processed by the onboard Digital Signal Processor, and collected by the Central Instrument Data Processor.

Time Range

Data is acquired per MMS orbit, with burst mode triggered within scientific Regions Of Interest.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 06:01:00.093957; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Data is collected in space, within Earth's magnetosphere and surrounding regions.