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The WHISPER Relaxation Sounder and the CLUSTER Active Archive

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The Cluster Active Archive

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings ((ASSSP))

Abstract

The Waves of HIgh frequency and Sounder for Probing of Electron density by Relaxation (WHISPER) instrument is part of the Wave Experiment Consortium (WEC) of the CLUSTER mission. With the help of the long double sphere antennae of the Electric Field and Wave (EFW) instrument and the Digital Wave Processor (DWP), it delivers active (sounding) and natural (transmitter off) electric field spectra, respectively from 4 to 82 kHz, and from 2 to 80 kHz. These frequency ranges have been chosen to include the electron plasma frequency, which is closely related to the total electron density, in most of the regions encountered by the CLUSTER spacecraft. Presented here is an overview of the WHISPER data products available in the CLUSTER Active Archive (CAA). The instrument and its performance are first recalled. The way the WHISPER products are obtained is then described, with particular attention being paid to the density determination. Both sounding and natural measurements are commonly used in this process, which depends on the ambient plasma regime. This is illustrated using drawings similar to the Bryant plots commonly used in the CLUSTER master science plan. These give a clear overview of typical density values and the parts of the orbits where they are obtained. More information on the applied software or on the quality/reliability of the density determination can also be highlighted.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all those who are in charge of CAA development, maintenance, and operations for their friendly assistance and efficiency. They also wish to express their great thanks to people from CNES who produce and deliver most of the WHISPER data products. Thanks are also due to all the scientists, research assistants, and engineers who have contributed their time to make the WHISPER experiment such a great success.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environnement et de l’Espace, Université d’Orléans, Orléans, France

    J. G. Trotignon, P. M. E. Décréau, J. L. Rauch, X. Vallières, A. Rochel, S. Kougblénou, G. Lointier & G. Facskó

  2. Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, Vélizy, France

    P. Canu

  3. Institut d’Aéronomie Spatiale de Belgique, Bruxelles, Belgique

    F. Darrouzet

  4. RSSD, ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

    A. Masson

Authors
  1. J. G. Trotignon
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  2. P. M. E. Décréau
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  3. J. L. Rauch
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  4. X. Vallières
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  5. A. Rochel
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  6. S. Kougblénou
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  7. G. Lointier
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  8. G. Facskó
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  9. P. Canu
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  10. F. Darrouzet
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  11. A. Masson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. G. Trotignon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Space Research &, European Space Agency, Keplerlaan 1, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands

    Harri Laakso

  2. ESTEC/SRE-S, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands

    Matthew Taylor

  3. ESTEC/SRE-S, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands

    C. Philippe Escoubet

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Trotignon, J.G. et al. (2010). The WHISPER Relaxation Sounder and the CLUSTER Active Archive. In: Laakso, H., Taylor, M., Escoubet, C. (eds) The Cluster Active Archive. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3499-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3499-1_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-3498-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-90-481-3499-1

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