EPD-STEP-MAIN>Energetic Particle Detector, SupraThermal Electrons and Protons, Main product

Energetic Particle Detector (EPD). Instrument suite, part of the scientific payload aboard the Solar Orbiter mission, dedicated to the study of solar energetic particles. EPD measures electrons, protons and heavy ions with high temporal resolution over a wide energy range, from suprathermal energies to several hundreds of MeV/nucleon. It is composed of four units: SupraThermal Electrons and Protons (STEP), Electron Proton Telescope (EPT), Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph (SIS) and High Energy Telescope (HET).

Solar Orbiter, Level 2 Data, Energetic Particle Detector, SupraThermal Electrons and Protons, Main product

Start of acquisition interval. Variable cadence: 10 s in far mode, 1 s in close mode 

0x1: Bad value, 0x2: Close mode, 0x4: High flux mode, 0x8: Stray light problems, 0x10: Large detector dead times, 0x20: Detector saturation 

Flag indicating when small pixels are used (0: Regular pixels, 1: Small pixels)

Small pixels are used for reducing the geometry factor of the detector in periods with very high particle flux. 

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 1

Includes ions of different species and electrons. Calibrated using the detector response for Hydrogen. 

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 2

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 3

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 4

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 5

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 6

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 7

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 8

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 9

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 10

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 11

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 12

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 13

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 14

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) for pixel 15

Particle intensities in integral channel (ions + electrons) averaged for all pixels

Includes ions of different species and electrons. Calibrated using the detector response for Hydrogen.  Weighted average (using geometric factors) of the intensities measured by all pixels. 

Includes ions of different species. Calibrated using the detector response for Hydrogen. 

Particle intensities in magnet channel (ions) averaged for all pixels

Includes ions of different species. Calibrated using the detector response for Hydrogen. Weighted average (using geometric factors) of the intensities measured by all pixels. 

Count rate measured by the background pixel (0) on the integral channel. This pixel is shielded to prevent particles from the nominal field of view from reaching the detector, but it is still susceptible to highly energetic particles penetrating the housing and passive parts of the sensor. It can be used to get a rough estimation of the background signal in the other pixels, which are currently not corrected for this effect 

Count rate measured by the background pixel (0) on the magnet channel. This pixel is shielded to prevent particles from the nominal field of view from reaching the detector, but it is still susceptible to highly energetic particles penetrating the housing and passive parts of the sensor. It can be used to get a rough estimation of the background signal in the other pixels, which are currently not corrected for this effect 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 1 

Electron intensity in pixel 1 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_01_Mult *  ( Integral_01_Flux - Magnet_Flux_01 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 2 

Electron intensity in pixel 2 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_02_Mult *  ( Integral_02_Flux - Magnet_Flux_02 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 3 

Electron intensity in pixel 3 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_03_Mult *  ( Integral_03_Flux - Magnet_Flux_03 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 4 

Electron intensity in pixel 4 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_04_Mult *  ( Integral_04_Flux - Magnet_Flux_04 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 5 

Electron intensity in pixel 5 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_05_Mult *  ( Integral_05_Flux - Magnet_Flux_05 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 6 

Electron intensity in pixel 6 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_06_Mult *  ( Integral_06_Flux - Magnet_Flux_06 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 7 

Electron intensity in pixel 7 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_07_Mult *  ( Integral_07_Flux - Magnet_Flux_07 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 8 

Electron intensity in pixel 8 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_08_Mult *  ( Integral_08_Flux - Magnet_Flux_08 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 9 

Electron intensity in pixel 9 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_09_Mult *  ( Integral_09_Flux - Magnet_Flux_09 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 10 

Electron intensity in pixel 10 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_10_Mult *  ( Integral_10_Flux - Magnet_Flux_10 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 11 

Electron intensity in pixel 11 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_11_Mult *  ( Integral_11_Flux - Magnet_Flux_11 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 12 

Electron intensity in pixel 12 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_12_Mult *  ( Integral_12_Flux - Magnet_Flux_12 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 13 

Electron intensity in pixel 13 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_13_Mult *  ( Integral_13_Flux - Magnet_Flux_13 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 14 

Electron intensity in pixel 14 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_14_Mult *  ( Integral_14_Flux - Magnet_Flux_14 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess for pixel 15 

Electron intensity in pixel 15 can be obtained as Electron_Flux_15_Mult *  ( Integral_15_Flux - Magnet_Flux_15 ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Conversion factors for computing pixel averaged electron intensities from integral-magnet flux excess 

Pixel averaged electron intensity can be obtained as Electron_Flux_Avg_Mult *  ( Integral_Avg_Flux - Magnet_Avg_Flux ). The result gives the intensities in the energy channels given in the variables Electron_Bins_*. This factor is calculated as the ratio between  the product of the geometric factor and the bin width for protons and those for electrons. During periods with poor electron count statistics, this operation may lead to negative values. Although negative intensities have no physical meaning by themselves, they should be used when performing time or energy averages in order to get the correct results. 

Particle flow direction (unit vector) in RTN coordinates averaged for all pixels

Particle flow direction (unit vector) in spacecraft XYZ coordinates averaged for all pixels

Particle flow direction (unit vector) in RTN coordinates for each pixel

Particle flow direction (unit vector) in spacecraft XYZ coordinates for each pixel


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