The Aditya-L1 satellite has initiated operations for the Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX), showcasing normal performance of its cutting-edge instruments – the Solar wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) and STEPS (SupraThermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer). STEPS began operating on September 10, 2023, while SWIS became active on November 2, 2023, demonstrating excellent functionality.
With SWIS utilizing two sensor units offering an extensive 360° field of view each in perpendicular planes, it successfully measured solar wind ions, predominantly protons and alpha particles. Data collected over two days in November 2023 provided a comprehensive energy histogram, displaying variations in proton (H+) and alpha particle (He2+) counts, offering insights into solar wind behavior within a nominal integration time frame.
The directional capabilities of SWIS facilitate precise measurements, shedding light on solar wind properties, processes, and their impacts on Earth, addressing long-standing queries within the field.
Observations from SWIS, specifically changes in the proton and alpha particle number ratio, hold promise in indirectly predicting the arrival of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L1. An increased alpha-to-proton ratio serves as a sensitive marker for interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) at the L1, vital for studying space weather phenomena.
As researchers delve deeper into the amassed data, the global scientific community anticipates the profound insights that ASPEX aboard Aditya-L1 will provide regarding the enigmatic solar wind and its implications for Earth.