Fritz Primdahl

Scalar Calibration of Vector Magnetometers

The calibration parameters of a vector magnetometer are estimated only by the use of a scalar reference magnetometer. The method presented in this paper differs from those previously reported in its linearized parametrization. This allows the determination of three offsets or signals in the absence of a magnetic field, three scale factors for normalization of the axes and three non-orthogonality angles which build up an orthogonal system intrinsically in the sensor. The advantage of this method compared with others lies in its linear least squares estimator, which finds independently and uniquely the parameters for a given data set. Therefore, a magnetometer may be characterized inexpensively in the Earths magnetic-field environment. This procedure has been used successfully in the pre-flight calibration of the state-of-the-art magnetometers on board the magnetic mapping satellites Orsted, Astrid-2, CHAMP and SAC-C. By using this method, full-Earth-field-range magnetometers (± 65536.0 nT) can be characterized down to an absolute precision of 0.5 nT, non-orthogonality of only 2 arcsec and a resolution of 0.2 nT.

Ørsted Initial Field Model

Magnetic measurements taken by the Orsted satellite during geomagnetic quiet conditions around Jan-uary 1, 2000 have been used to derive a spherical harmonic model of the Earths magnetic field for epoch 2000.0. The maximum degree and order of the model is 19 for internal, and 2 for external, source fields; however, coefficients above degree 14 may not be robust. Such a detailed model exists for only one previous epoch, 1980. Achieved rms misfit is < 2 nT for the scalar intensity and < 3 nT for one of the vector components perpendicular to the magnetic field. For scientific purposes related to the Orsted mission, this model supercedes IGRF 2000.

Ørsted satellite captures high‐precision geomagnetic field data

Space-based, high-precision magnetometry is essential for understanding a variety of phenomena ranging from secular variation of the Earths main field, through the signatures of crustal magnetism and the effects of plasma currents flowing externally to the Earth. Orsted, Denmarks first satellite, was launched on February 23, 1999 into a polar, low-Earth orbit to provide the first near-global set of high-precision geomagnetic observations since the Magsat mission of 1979–1980 (see Magsat Special Issue of Geophysical Research Letters., vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 239–379, 1982). With the new mapping of the Earths magnetic field, the International Geomagnetic Reference Field model (IGRF), a standard model used for navigation, prospecting, and other practical purposes, has been determined with improved precision for epoch 2000 [Olsen et al., 2000a; Mandea and Langlais, 2000]. The satellite has routinely provided high-precision vector data since August 1999, and the mission is continuing well beyond its nominal 14-month lifetime into 2001.

Calibration of the Ørsted vector magnetometer

The vector fluxgate magnetometer of the Ørsted satellite is routinely calibrated by comparing its output with measurements of the absolute magnetic intensity from the Overhauser instrument, which is the second magnetometer of the satellite. We describe the method used for and the result obtained in that calibration. Using three years of data the agreement between the two magnetometers after calibration is 0.33 nT rms (corresponding to better than ± 1 nT for 98% of the data, and better than ± 2 nT for 99.94% of the data). We also report on the determination of the transformation between the magnetometer coordinate system and the reference system of the star imager. This is done by comparing the magnetic and attitude measurements with a model of Earth’s magnetic field. The Euler angles describing this rotation are determined in this way with an accuracy of better than 4 arcsec.

Quasiperiodic oscillations observed at the edge of an auroral arc by auroral turbulence 2

The Auroral Turbulence II (AT2) sounding rocket carried three payloads into the auroral ionosphere where they crossed several arc structures. At the border of an auroral arc a quasiperiodic structure was observed by the magnetic and electric field instruments as well as by the particle detectors. The variations were temporal oscillations, but existed only in a narrow (≈ 7 km) region transverse to the arc, with a correlation length along the arc of at least several km. The relation between the electric and magnetic field amplitude indicates the Alfvenic nature of the variations. Field aligned electron precipitation is correlated to the field variations. The narrow band nature of the oscillations and frequency around 0.6 Hz is consistent with waves confined in the ionospheric Alfven resonator.

Digital detection and feedback fluxgate magnetometer

A new full Earths field dynamic feedback fluxgate magnetometer is described. It is based entirely on digital signal processing and digital feedback control, thereby replacing the classical second harmonic tuned analogue electronics by processor algorithms. Discrete mathematical cross-correlation routines and substantial oversampling reduce the noise to 71 pT root-mean-square in a 0.25 - 10 Hz bandwidth for a full Earths field range instrument.

Observation of electromagnetic oxygen cyclotron waves in a flickering aurora

Instruments on the Auroral Turbulence rocket detected several intervals of weak electromagnetic oscillations at frequencies of 6–13 Hz in a strongly flickering auroral arc. These oscillations have amplitudes of up to δB ∼ 3 nT and δE ∼ 4 mV/m and have downward field-aligned Poynting fluxes of up to ∼10−5 W/m². Fluctuations in the parallel electron flux at about 9 Hz were observed in association with the strongest of these oscillations. Simultaneous ground-based optical data show that the arc was flickering at frequencies of 8–15 Hz. The observed frequencies would match the oxygen cyclotron frequency at ∼4500 km altitude. In one wave/particle event the apparent lag of the waves behind the modulated electrons implies a modulation source altitude of 2500–5000 km. We interpret these waves as electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves originating in the auroral acceleration region.

Multiple‐point electron measurements in a nightside auroral arc: Auroral turbulence II particle observations

We report here three-point measurements of bursty, velocity-dispersed, field-aligned electron precipitation at the poleward edge of a northward-moving, post-breakup, nightside auroral arc. The three-point measurement allows detection of the proper motion of the inverted-V arc, which is shown to be 550 m/sec northward. The velocity dispersion patterns are fitted to find the source altitude of the precipitation bursts as a function of distance from the poleward edge of the arc. These source points are interpreted to trace out the low-altitude boundary of the inverted-V potential drop, which is seen to rise both in time, and in the northward direction. The precipitation bursts under the inverted-V are seen to have an arc-aligned velocity which varies with time, and which is consistent with the measured E × B local drift speed.

Digital fluxgate magnetometer for the Astrid-2 satellite

The design and performance of the Astrid-2 magnetometer are described. The magnetometer uses mathematical routines, implemented by software for commercially available digital signal processors, to determine the magnetic field from the fluxgate sensor. The sensor is from the latest generation of amorphous metal sensors developed by the Department of Automation at the Technical University of Denmark.

Ørsted pre-flight magnetometer calibration mission

The compact spherical coil (CSC) vector-feedback magnetometer on the Danish Orsted geomagnetic mapping satellite underwent extensive calibrations and verifications prior to integration and launch. The theory of the thin shell calibration procedure is introduced. Spherical harmonic modelling was developed and tested over several years and used for Orsted and other missions at test facilities in Europe, the United States and the Republic of South Africa. The verification of the test coil system using an Overhauser absolute scalar proton magnetometer is explained and the overall calibration results are given. The temperature calibrations are explained and reported on. The overall calibration model standard deviation is about 100 pT rms. Comparisons with the later in-flight calibrations show that, except for the unknown satellite offsets, an agreement within 4 nT was obtained. Finally an rf interference between the CSC and the Overhauser magnetometer is discussed, which may account for some of this discrepancy.