Articles | Volume 43, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-115-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-115-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Quadratic magnetic gradients from seven- and nine-spacecraft constellations
School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
School of Mathematics and Physics, Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, China
Rungployphan Kieokaew
Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (IRAP), Toulouse, France
Yufei Zhou
School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
Related authors
Yufei Zhou and Chao Shen
Ann. Geophys., 42, 17–28, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-17-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-17-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Multiple spacecraft can operate jointly to detect quantities that are unattainable with a single spacecraft. Present constellations typically consist of four spacecraft, and it is established that a planar distribution of the spacecraft should be avoided. This study addresses the configuration problem for future missions of more spacecraft to measure physical gradients of higher orders. As for quadratic gradients, spacecraft must not be on any quadric surface, such as a sphere or cylinder.
Yufei Zhou and Chao Shen
Ann. Geophys., 42, 17–28, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-17-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-17-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Multiple spacecraft can operate jointly to detect quantities that are unattainable with a single spacecraft. Present constellations typically consist of four spacecraft, and it is established that a planar distribution of the spacecraft should be avoided. This study addresses the configuration problem for future missions of more spacecraft to measure physical gradients of higher orders. As for quadratic gradients, spacecraft must not be on any quadric surface, such as a sphere or cylinder.
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Short summary
The coming seven-spacecraft Plasma Observatory and nine-spacecraft HelioSwarm will achieve seven–nine-point magnetic measurements. In this study, a new algorithm is generated to calculate linear and quadratic magnetic gradients from such magnetic measurements so as to obtain the complete geometry of the magnetic structures observed. The tests verify the feasibility of the method. The algorithm can thus be applied to the analysis of magnetic field data from the Plasma Observatory and HelioSwarm.
The coming seven-spacecraft Plasma Observatory and nine-spacecraft HelioSwarm will achieve...