The Magnetic Field Experiment (MFE) includes a fluxgate magnetometer sensor mounted on a 2 meter boom [Potemra et al., IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing, vol. GE-23, 246, 1985]. The fluxgate sensor was sampled at a rate of 8 vector samples/s. Survey data of the spin-averaged DC magnetic field at ~6 second resolution are available on-line through this page. The data span the entire AMPTE/CCE mission, from 1984 day 234, August 21, through 1989 day 009 with occasional data gaps. A lengthy data gap occurred in 1986 from day 252, September 9, ~1300UT through day 286, October 12, ~1800UT, during an extended eclipse period.
These data are intended for survey and archival purposes. Additional analysis and coordinate transformation (see below) may be required for specific scientific analysis and for publication or formal presentation. Data files, compressed with gzip, are available for downloading. High time resolution data are archived on CD-ROM at JHU/APL and limited quantities can be provided upon request (see contacts below).
Spacecraft spin (6 second period) effects have been removed using a multi-variable sine wave regression with the highest time resolution data to continuously monitor and correct for spacecraft spin plane offsets, sensor and alignment relative to the spin axis, and gain corrections. The de-spun high time resolution data were then averaged over a spin to further reduce any remaining spin tone effects in the data. Other artifacts including occasional bad telemetry points and periods of instrument oscillation that occurred during eclipse intervals were not removed from these data. Such artifacts must be corrected for scientific analysis of these data.
The spacecraft position and magnetic field data are in GSE coordinates. The decision not to provide other coordinates was based on two factors. First to minimize the size of the on-line archive and second to avoid any ambiguity about what model field was used to define magnetic coordinates. The information provided allows investigators to convert to whatever other system best suits their purposes.
Questions regarding the processing of these data, their use of these data for scientific studies, or requests for high time resolution data should be directed to Dr. Brian J. Anderson, JHU/APL, 01-240-228-6347 or Dr. Kazue Takahashi, JHU/APL, 01-240-228-5782.