The RFS is the high frequency component of the FIELDS experiment on the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft [1]. For a full description of the FIELDS experiment, see [2]. For a description of the RFS, see [3].

The RFS produces auto and cross spectral data products in two frequency ranges, the LFR (Low Frequency Receiver) range and the HFR (High Frequency Receiver) range. Telemetered spectral data products for both HFR and LFR contain 64 frequency bins, with the LFR typically covering a frequency range from 10.5 kHz to 1.7 MHz, and the HFR covering from 1.3 MHz to 19.2 MHz, with approximately logarithmically spaced bins. LFR HiRes spectra contain 32 finely spaced frequency bins near the plasma frequency. The exact frequency bins are selectable and are included as metadata variables in this file.

The Level 3 data products contained in this data file have been calibrated for the preamp and RFS analog section response, the polyphase filter bank (PFB), and the FFT spectral processing as described in [3]. Instrumental background noise from the preamp and RFS analog section has been removed from the L3 data. Level 3 flux variables are converted from power spectral density using base capacitance and antenna effective length values from [4]. This conversion assumes that the PSP/FIELDS antenna response can be characterized as an ideal short dipole, and the antenna impedance is capacitive. At higher frequencies (above ~7 MHz), the antenna no longer responds as an ideal dipole, and at very high densities, the resistive component of the antenna impedance can result in an impedance that is not purely capacitive. The effects of non-ideal dipole antenna response and non-capacitive impedance are not included in the current version of Level 3 processing.

Units for spectral quantities are V^2/Hz and W/m^2/Hz (flux). Flux is computed for cross dipole measurements (V1V2 and V3V4) and for psp_fld_l3_rfs_hfr_PSD_FLUX.

The psp_fld_l3_rfs_hfr_PSD_FLUX, psp_fld_l3_rfs_hfr_PSD_SFU, and psp_fld_l3_rfs_hfr_STOKES_V variables incorporate both RFS channels to generate an estimate of power spectral density and circular polarization for radio emission with a source near the Sun. Corrections for spacecraft attitude and antenna non-orthogonality have been applied [5]. The PSD_SFU variable contains the flux from PSD_FLUX, converted to sfu and normalized to a distance of 1 au. These quantities are directly comparable to the equivalently named quantities in the STEREO and Solar Orbiter Level 3 CDF files.

Time resolution of the RFS varies with instrument mode. During encounter (when PSP is within 0.25 AU of the Sun), cadence for RFS HFR and LFR spectra is typically about 7 seconds.  During cruise mode, which is the default mode for operations outside of 0.25 AU, cadence for HFR and LFR spectra is about 56 seconds.

1. Fox, N.J., Velli, M.C., Bale, S.D. et al. Space Sci Rev (2016) 204: 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-015-0211-6

2. Bale, S.D., Goetz, K., Harvey, P.R. et al. Space Sci Rev (2016) 204: 49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-016-0244-5

3. Pulupa, M., Bale, S. D., Bonnell, J.W. et al. (2017) JGR Space Physics, 122, 2836-2854. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023345

4. Page, B., Bassett, N., Lecacheux, A. et al. (2022) Astronomy & Astrophysics, 668, A127. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202244621

5. Lecacheux, A. (2011) in Planetary, Solar and Heliospheric Radio Emissions (PRE VII), 13-36. https://doi.org/10.1553/PRE7s13

Revision 3: Corrected error where onboard compression could generate telemetered spectral data with an incorrect value of zero

PSP/FIELDS Rules of the Road available at http://fields.ssl.berkeley.edu/rules/

Unit vector for V1V2 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V1V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V3V4 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V3V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Distance from the solar center for PSP spacecraft in units of solar radii (Rs).

HFR Flux Density (Stokes I) data, from cross dipole measurements.

HFR Flux Density (Stokes I) data, from cross dipole measurements, normalized to 1 AU.

psp_fld_l3_rfs_hfr_PSD_FLUX, converted to sfu and normalized to a distance of 1 au, useful for multi-spacecraft investigation of angular dependence of radio emission from the Sun. Note that the normalization is a simple 1/r^2 scaling, neglecting the non-zero radial distance of the emission source region.

HFR Circular Polarization (Stokes V) data, normalized to Stokes I.

The Stokes V parameter characterizes the circular polarization of radio emission. We assume a radio source region near the Sun, and use the following conventions for representing the circular polarization: Emission is right-hand circularly polarized (RHC) for a field vector rotating clockwise when viewed from the radio source along the direction of propagation to the spacecraft, and left-hand circularly polarized (LHC) for a vector rotating counterclockwise. A positive value of Stokes V corresponds to RHC emission, and a negative value corresponds to LHC emission.

FIELDS quality flags. This is a bitwise variable, meaning that multiple flags can be set for a single time, by adding flag values. Current flagged values are: 1: FIELDS antenna bias sweep, 2: PSP thruster firing, 4: SCM Calibration, 8: PSP rotations for MAG calibration (MAG rolls), 16: FIELDS MAG calibration sequence, 32: SWEAP SPC in electron mode, 64: PSP Solar limb sensor (SLS) test. 128: PSP spacecraft is off umbra pointing. 256: High frequency noise affecting RFS and TDS receivers. 512: Antennas driven towards the FIELDS power supply rails. 1024: Anomalous bias current on one or more FIELDS antennas. A value of zero corresponds to no set flags. Not all flags are relevant to all FIELDS data products, refer to notes in the CDF metadata and on the FIELDS SOC website for information on how the various flags impact FIELDS data. For more information on the quality flags describing high frequency noise and antennas driven to the rails, see release notes for PSP/FIELDS releases 8 and 9. For more information on the quality flags describing  anomalous bias current, see release notes for PSP/FIELDS release 12. Additional flagged items may be added in the future.

Overrange flag indicates an overrange condition in at least one input waveform collected during the LFR or HFR accumulation interval (see Ref. [3]).0: No overranges, 1: Overrange in Low Gain but not High Gain, 2: Overrange in High Gain but not Low Gain, 3: Overrange in Low Gain and High Gain.

HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V3V4 in units of flux density (W/m^2/Hz)

Frequencies for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V3V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V3V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V3V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V4

Frequencies for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V1V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V1V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V1V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V2

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V2

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V3V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V3V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V3V2

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V3V2

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V2

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V3 Ch1: V1V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V3 Ch1: V1V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V3 Ch1: V2

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Imag Part, Ch0: V3 Ch1: V4

HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V3V4 in units of flux density (W/m^2/Hz)

Frequencies for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V3V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V3V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V3V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V2 Ch1: V4

Frequencies for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V1V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V1V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V1V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V2

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V2

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1V3 Ch1: V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V3V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V3V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V3V2

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V3V2

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V2

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V1 Ch1: V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V3 Ch1: V1V4

Overrange flag for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V3 Ch1: V1V4

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V3 Ch1: V2

N summed spectra for HFR Cross Spectra Real Part, Ch0: V3 Ch1: V4

Unit vector for V1V2 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V1V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V1V2 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V1V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V1V3 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V1V3 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V1V3 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V1V3 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V1V3 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V1V3 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V1 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V1 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V1 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V1 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V1 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V1 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V3 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V3 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V3 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V3 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V3 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V3 spectra were recorded in HFR ch0.

Unit vector for V3V4 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V3V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V3V4 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V3V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V3V2 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V3V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V3V2 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V3V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V3V2 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V3V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V1V4 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V1V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V1V4 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V1V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V1V4 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V1V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V2 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V2 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V2 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V2 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V4 antenna(s) in RTN frame for times when V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V4 antenna(s) in J2000 frame for times when V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Unit vector for V4 antenna(s) in IAU_JUPITER frame for times when V4 spectra were recorded in HFR ch1.

Time for PSP spacecraft position data in several coordinate systems.


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