Voyager 2 Plasma Science: Derived Ion Data from Neptune's Magnetosphere
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Description
Voyager 2 Neptune Plasma Science (PLS) Derived Ion Magnetosphere, Version 1.0, 48 s Reduced Data Record (RDR) Data provides derived ion densities, temperatures, and velocities from the Voyager 2 Plasma Experiment. The data were produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration using a non-linear least squares fitting routine on observed spectra. The dataset includes values for the upstream solar wind, magnetosheath, and magnetosphere of Neptune.
Use Cases
Modeling plasma flow and composition in Neptune's magnetosphere based on derived ion densities and velocities.
Analyzing solar wind interaction with Neptune's magnetosphere based on upstream solar wind parameters.
Studying magnetosheath plasma properties based on averaged spectra and two-component proton fits.
Investigating ion temperature and density variations across different regions (solar wind, magnetosheath, magnetosphere).
Strengths
Data derived from the Voyager 2 Plasma Experiment, a primary source for Neptune's plasma environment.
Includes one sigma error estimates for all fit values in the magnetosphere.
Provides both moment and fit values for velocity, density, and thermal speed in the outbound magnetosheath and solar wind.
Limitations
Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
The description notes spacecraft potential effects (~ -10 V) and low signal-to-noise ratios may impact density and velocity accuracy.
Provenance
Source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Collection Method
Data derived from fitting observed spectra from the Voyager 2 Plasma Experiment with Maxwellian plasma distributions.
Time Range
Voyager 2 Neptune flyby in 1989.
Freshness
Last updated 2026-04-10 04:38:01.809760; freshness should be verified.
Geography
Neptune's magnetosphere, magnetosheath, and upstream solar wind.
License is listed as 'other-license-specified'; specific terms must be reviewed before use.