SWA, Solar Wind Analyser suite

The SWA suite comprises 3 scientific sensors, the Electron Analyser System (SWA-EAS), the Proton-Alpha Sensor (SWA-PAS), and the Heavy Ion Sensor (SWA-HIS). SWA scientific data products from SWA-EAS and SWA-PAS consist of calibrated 3D velocity distribution functions (VDFs) of the major solar wind constituents: electrons, protons, and alpha particles. The basic moments of the distributions of these particles, such as density, velocity, pressure tensor, and heat flux vector are provided. The cadence (time resolution) of the data products varies between sensors and is anyway dependent on which of a number of normal or burst modes of operation the individual sensors are commanded into at any given time. Data products may be available at cadences between fractions of a second and 100 seconds, a range which supports characterisation of the fluid and kinetic states of the solar wind. In addition, using SWA-HIS measurements, derivations of relative elemental abundances, ionic charge state ratios and distributions, velocity space distributions and moments (population density, bulk flow speed and temperature) of representative high-FIP elements (the C, N, O group), and of low-FIP elements (such as Fe, Si or Mg) are provided. SWA-HIS full 3D VDFs of the prominent heavy ions are returned at 5 min cadence in normal mode and 30 s in burst mode. Additionally, SWA-HIS measures 3D VDFs of alpha particles at a 4 s resolution in burst mode. Usage notes for the SWA-HIS data products can be found at https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/soar/support-data#swa