Electric Field and Waves Suite (EFW)
The EFW SOC can be found here.
EFW will study the electric fields in near-Earth space that energize radiation particles and modify the structure of the inner magnetosphere.
EFW Science Investigation Objectives:
Measure electric fields associated with a variety of mechanisms causing particle energization, scattering and transport in the inner magnetosphere, including:
- Energization by substorm injection fronts propagating in from the magnetotail
- Transport and energization by intense magnetosonic waves generated by interplanetary shock impacts upon the magnetosphere
-
Why Measure E on Van Allen Probes?
- In collisionless plasmas, such as the Earth’s radiation belts, the electromagnetic field is responsible for all observed particle acceleration.
Key Measurement Quantities:
- Spin axis component of E at DC - 12 Hz (~3 mV/m accuracy)
- Spacecraft potential estimate covering cold plasma densities of 0.1 to ~100 cm-3 at 1-second cadence
- Burst recordings of high-frequency E- and B-field waveforms, as well as individual sensor potentials for interferometric analyses
