TY - JOUR
T1 - Wave-Telescope Analysis for Multipoint Observatories
T2 - Impact of Timing and Spatial Uncertainties
AU - Klein, K. G.
AU - Broeren, T.
AU - Roberts, O.
AU - Schulz, L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
©2024. The Author(s).
PY - 2024/12/10
Y1 - 2024/12/10
N2 - The wave telescope technique is used to reconstruct spatial power distributions of space plasmas from multipoint spacecraft missions. This study aims to quantify the impact of uncalibrated uncertainties in the time synchronization and the spatial position on the accuracy of the wave telescope method for observatories with more than four spacecraft, for example, HelioSwarm a nine-spacecraft NASA observatory currently in Phase B. We simulate synthetic data with systemic timing and spatial errors modeled using geometries drawn from HelioSwarm's Design Reference Mission, applying the wave telescope technique to estimate wavevectors for two characteristic ion-scale waves. By carefully selecting optimal polyhedral configurations from the overall geometry, and combining signals from multiple polyhedra, the impact of systematic uncertainties and spatial aliasing can be significantly reduced, leading to more accurate wavevector identification for future multipoint missions. Key Points Timing and spatial uncertainties affect wavevector determination from multipoint analysis methods Selecting optimal subsets of measurement points reduces the impact of timing and spatial errors, improving wavevector identification Combining power spectra from multiple measurement subsets further enhances wavevector accuracy through reduction of spatial aliasingPlain Language SummaryUnderstanding how energy, mass, and momentum moves through space is crucial for determining how fundamental plasma processes work in our solar system and throughout the universe. To study energy transport, scientists can rely on measurements taken from multiple spacecraft at the same time, using tools such as the wave telescope technique, which determines the amplitude and direction of travel of waves. Our research focuses on improving the accuracy of this method by looking at what happens when the spacecraft are not precisely synchronized in time or space. We simulate these errors, and find that by carefully choosing certain groups of spacecraft from an overall observatory, we can reduce the impact of these errors and get more accurate results. This is important for future space missions, like HelioSwarm and Plasma Observatory, which will use multiple spacecraft to study space plasmas in greater detail than ever before.
AB - The wave telescope technique is used to reconstruct spatial power distributions of space plasmas from multipoint spacecraft missions. This study aims to quantify the impact of uncalibrated uncertainties in the time synchronization and the spatial position on the accuracy of the wave telescope method for observatories with more than four spacecraft, for example, HelioSwarm a nine-spacecraft NASA observatory currently in Phase B. We simulate synthetic data with systemic timing and spatial errors modeled using geometries drawn from HelioSwarm's Design Reference Mission, applying the wave telescope technique to estimate wavevectors for two characteristic ion-scale waves. By carefully selecting optimal polyhedral configurations from the overall geometry, and combining signals from multiple polyhedra, the impact of systematic uncertainties and spatial aliasing can be significantly reduced, leading to more accurate wavevector identification for future multipoint missions. Key Points Timing and spatial uncertainties affect wavevector determination from multipoint analysis methods Selecting optimal subsets of measurement points reduces the impact of timing and spatial errors, improving wavevector identification Combining power spectra from multiple measurement subsets further enhances wavevector accuracy through reduction of spatial aliasingPlain Language SummaryUnderstanding how energy, mass, and momentum moves through space is crucial for determining how fundamental plasma processes work in our solar system and throughout the universe. To study energy transport, scientists can rely on measurements taken from multiple spacecraft at the same time, using tools such as the wave telescope technique, which determines the amplitude and direction of travel of waves. Our research focuses on improving the accuracy of this method by looking at what happens when the spacecraft are not precisely synchronized in time or space. We simulate these errors, and find that by carefully choosing certain groups of spacecraft from an overall observatory, we can reduce the impact of these errors and get more accurate results. This is important for future space missions, like HelioSwarm and Plasma Observatory, which will use multiple spacecraft to study space plasmas in greater detail than ever before.
KW - plasma waves
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211494806&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2024JA033428
DO - 10.1029/2024JA033428
M3 - Article
SN - 2169-9380
VL - 129
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
IS - 12
M1 - e2024JA033428
ER -