Parker Solar Probe FIELDS: Low-Frequency Magnetic Field Spectra

Level 2 calibrated spectral data from the Parker Solar Probe's Digital Fields Board (DFB) search coil magnetometer, measuring frequencies below 75 kHz. The data consists of power spectral densities as a function of frequency and time, calibrated for instrument gain and filter responses, and expressed in sensor coordinates. Data products are provided by NASA and last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyzing low-frequency magnetic field power spectra based on the reported pseudo-logarithmically spaced frequency bins.
• Studying solar wind turbulence and wave phenomena based on calibrated spectral densities in units of nanoTesla squared per Hertz.
• Investigating instrument response and calibration effects based on the described corrections for Hanning window, analog/digital filters, and preamplifier.
• Comparing magnetic field components across different solar orbits based on the described sensor coordinate systems [d,e,f] and [u,v,w].

Strengths

• Data is calibrated for multiple instrument responses including Hanning window, in-band gain, and analog/digital filter gains.
• Specific calibration details are provided, noting corrections applied and those reserved for Level 3 products.
• Coordinate systems for the magnetic field data are explicitly defined for different solar orbits.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The description notes a non-physical power trend at high frequencies after digital filter compensation, requiring careful examination.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by the Digital Fields Board (DFB) component of the FIELDS experiment on the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft.

Time Range

Covers data from solar orbits, with specific coordinate systems noted for orbits 1-2 and orbits 3+.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 05:53:23.401978; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Data collected in-situ from the Parker Solar Probe's trajectory through the solar corona and inner heliosphere.