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Instrument: SWE : Solar Wind Experiment (WIND) |
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Associated Platforms WIND Spectral/Frequency Information Wavelength Keyword: Gamma Ray Number Channels: 5 Spectral/Frequency Coverage/Range: 5 eV - 22 KeV Related Data Sets View all records related to this instrument Description The Solar Wind Experiment (SWE) on WIND will measure ions and electrons in the solar wind and the foreshock regions (particles whose energies are in the kiloelectronvolt range). From these measurements, the solar wind velocity, density, temperature and heat flux can be deduced. Electron and ion velocity distributions should reveal properties of the following plasmas and their pivotal role in the transfer of mass, momentum, and energy from the Sun to the Earth. Measurements made in the foreshock region will contribute to understanding the structure of the bow shock. The SWE instrument consists of five integrated sensor/electronics boxes and a data processing unit (DPU). The sensor units are mounted on the top and bottom shelves of the spacecraft, extending through the top and bottom surfaces. 3D velocity distribution measurements of the ion component in the solar wind are made by a pair of Faraday Cup analyzers, which provide a wide field-of-view and the capability for flow characterization within one spin revolution (3 seconds). 3D velocity distribution measurements of ions and electrons in plasmas having Mach numbers. For more information, see: http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena/org/s/space/www/wind.html Online Resources http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena/org/s/space/www/wind.html Instrument Logistics Instrument Start Date: 1994-11-01 Instrument Owner: NASA MIT University of New Hampshire |
