PSP Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) SPAN-B Electron Energy Spectra, Level 2 (L2), 1.74 s Data

SPAN-E Level 2 ELectron Energy Spectra Data-------------------------------------------File Naming Format: psp_swp_spb_sf1_L2_32E_YYYYMMDD_v01.cdfThe SF1 product is an energy spectrum produced on the spacecraft by summing over the Theta and Phi directions. The units are differential energy flux and eV. The sample filename above includes 32 Energies.The larger Theta angles (deflection angles) are artificially enhanced in the "sf1" energy spectra data products due to the method of spectra production on the SPAN-E instrument (straight summing). Thus, SF1 energy spectra are not recommended for rigid statistical analysis.Parker Solar Probe SWEAP Solar Probe Analyzer, SPAN, Electron Data Release Notes--------------------------------------------------------------------------------November 19, 2019 Initial Data Release--------------------------------------Overview of Measurements------------------------The SWEAP team is pleased to release the data from Encounter 1 and Encounter 2. The files contain data from the time range October 31, 2018 - June 18, 2019.The prime mission of Parker Solar Probe is to take data when within 0.25 AU of the Sun during its orbit. However, there has been some extended campaign measurements outside of this distance. The data are available for those days that are within 0.25 AU as well as those days when the instruments were operational outside of 0.25 AU.Each SWEAP data file includes a set of a particular type of measurements over a single observing day. Measurements are provided in Common Data Format (CDF), a self-documenting data framework for which convenient open source tools exist across most scientific computing platforms. Users are strongly encouraged to consult the global metadata in each file, and the metadata that are linked to each variable. The metadata includes comprehensive listings of relevant information, including units, coordinate systems, qualitative descriptions, measurement uncertainties, methodologies, links to further documentation, and so forth.SPAN-E Level 2 Version 01 Release Notes---------------------------------------The SPAN-Ae and SPAN-B instruments together have fields of view covering >90% of the sky; major obstructions to the FOV include the spacecraft heat shield and other intrusions by spacecraft components. Each individual SPAN-E has FOV of ±60° in Theta and 240° in Phi. The rotation matrices to convert into the spacecraft frame can be found in the individual CDF files, or in the instrument paper.This data set covers all periods for which the instrument was turned on and taking data in the solar wind in ion mode. This includes maneuvers affecting the spacecraft attitude and orientation. Measurements taken by SPAN-B when the spacecraft is pointed away from the sun are taken in sunlight.The data quality flags for the SPAN data can be found in the CDF files as: QUALITY_FLAG (0=good, 1=bad)General Remarks for Version 01 Data-----------------------------------Users interested in field-aligned electrons should take care regarding potential blockages from the heat shield when B is near radial, especially in SPAN-Ae. Artificial reductions in strahl width can result.Due to the relatively high electron temperature in the inner heliosphere, many secondary electrons are generated from spacecraft and instrument surfaces. As a result, electron measurements in this release below 30 eV are not advised for scientific analysis.The fields of view in SPAN-Ae and SPAN-B have many intrusions by the spacecraft, and erroneous pixels discovered in analysis, in particular near the edges of the FOV, should be viewed with skepticism. Details on FOV intrusion are found in the instrument paper, forthcoming, or by contacting the SPAN-E instrument scientist.The instrument mechanical attentuators are engaged during the eight days around perihelia 1 and perihelia 2, which results in a factor of about 10 reduction of the total electron flux into the instrument. During these eight days, halo electron measurements are artificially enhanced in the L2 products as a result of the reduced instrument geometric factor and subsequent ground corrections.A general note for Encounter 1 and Encounter 2 data: a miscalculation in the deflection tables loaded to both SPAN-Ae and SPAN-B resulted in over-deflection of the outermost Theta angles during these encounters. As such, pixels at large Thetas should be ignored. This error was corrected by a table upload prior to Encounter 3.Lastly, when viewing time gaps in the SPAN-E measurements, be advised that the first data point produced by the instrument after a power-on is the maximum value permitted by internal instrument counters. Therefore, the first data point after powerup is erroneous and should be discarded, as indicated by quality flags.SPAN-E Encounter 1 Remarks--------------------------SPAN-E operated nominally for the majority of the first encounter. Exceptions to this include: a few instances of corrupted, higher-energy sweep tables, and an inst