Welcome to IBEX Data Release 7 Maps, Ascii text data files, Papers and other information based on Five years of operation.
IBEX Data Release 7
This seventh data release contains data used in the publication of McComas et al., 2014 ApJS, IBEX - the first five years (2009-2013), V. 213.pdf For questions about this or any other release, please email ibex_datareleases@lists.sr.unh.edu.
Individual data directories and related skymaps by type may be accessed via the Map Select Panel page. Select the IBEX instrument of interest and processing options on the control panel on that page. Previous and next buttons allow you to move between years, or between energy levels and wrap around upon reaching the min or max option.
To download the data release as a zip file or to go to a table of plot directories and data selections per instrument, click on one of the links below. To learn more about the structure and content of the files contained in the various released directories, a detailed description follows.
Data Directory Structure and Naming Conventions
Within the data directories there are subdirectories associated with each type of skymap. The following keywords or phrases embedded into the subdirectory names indicate the processing options used to create the skymaps.
- cg - Compton-Getting
- tabular - Survival Probabilities
- noSP - no Survival Probabilities
- ram - Ram direction
- antiram - Antiram direction
- mapx - x identifies a particular set of orbits spanning 6 months.
- yearx - x identifies a particular set of orbits spanning one year.
- ...1to10combined... - directory containing the combined skymap for the 6 month maps.
- ...1to5combined... - directory containing the combined skymap for the yearly maps.
- VarEnergySCFrame - directories containing combined maps in the spacecraft frame and with variable energy.
- VarEnergyInertialFrame - directory containing combined skymaps in the inertial frame (with cg in the name) but using the flux100 variable energy txt files.
- MonoEnergyInertialFrame - directory containing combined skymaps in the inertial frame (with cg in the name) and using the Mono_80 fixed energy txt files.
The 6-months and annual allsky maps are representative of the following IBEX orbits and dates:
| Year | Skymap # | Start-End of Orbits or Arcs | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Map1 | 11-34 | 12/25/2008 – 06/25/2009 |
| 1 | Map2 | 35-58 | 06/25/2009 – 12/25/2009 |
| 2 | Map3 | 59-82 | 12/25/2009 – 06/26/2010 |
| 2 | Map4 | 83-106 | 06/26/2010 – 12/26/2010 |
| 3 | Map5 | 107-130a | 12/26/2010 – 06/25/2011 |
| 3 | Map6 | 130b-150a | 06/25/2011 – 12/24/2011 |
| 4 | Map7 | 150b-170a | 12/24/2011 – 06/22/2012 |
| 4 | Map8 | 170b-190b | 06/22/2012 – 12/26/2012 |
| 5 | Map9 | 191a-210b | 12/26/2012 – 06/26/2013 |
| 5 | Map10 | 211a-230b | 06/26/2013 – 12/26/2013 |
Within each subdirectory there are a number of files associated with each sensor energy range that were used to create the skymap. File names that end with .txt (except -desc.txt) contain ASCII representations of particular data products. The data product with the file name "hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-ener.txt", for instance, identifies a flux (at 1 AU or at 100 AU if survival probabilities were applied) related file produced from the Hi instrument direct events (hide), triple (trp) coincidence types, energy sensor (2), with a type of 'energy' output data (ener), and that it is ASCII text data (.txt). The skymap plots with the .png suffix, accessible through the Skymap Selection Panel as well as thru the links in the "Plots" table below, are based on various calculations using these data products.
IBEX Hi Observing Energetic Neutral Atoms In a Higher Range of Energies
Plots and Data Directories
6-month Compton-Getting Corrected Maps Compton-Getting maps adjust values after correcting for the speed of the spacecraft in relation to the direction of arrival of the ENAs. The data directories: 1-10 Combined Maps in Mono Energy and InertialFrame |
These maps represent the data before any corrections are made for speed of spacecraft or survival probability. The data directories: |
These maps include data recorded from times when the aperture was pointed towards the hemisphere of the spacecraft’s motion. The maps do not include survival probability corrections. The data directories: Without Compton-Getting 1-5 Combined Years in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame With Compton-Getting 1-5 Combined Years in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame |
Yearly Maps, AntiRam These maps include data recorded at times when the aperture was pointed away from the hemisphere of the spacecraft’s motion. The maps do not include survival probability corrections. The data directories: Without Compton-Getting 1-5 Combined Years in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame With Compton-Getting 1-5 Combined Years in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame |
6-months, Compton-Getting and Compton-Getting Tabular Maps adjust values after correcting for the speed of the spacecraft in relation to the direction of arrival of the ENAs and include adjustments taking into account ENA survival probabilty as they move from the outer heliosphere to 1 AU (location of IBEX). The data directories: 1-10 Combined Maps in Mono Energy and InertialFrame 1-10 Combined Maps in Variable Energy and Inertial Frame Note: Survival probability correction procedures are documented in the paper in Appendix B. |
Survival Probability Lookup Maps Survival Probability Maps account for the loss (extinction) of ENAs due to radiation pressure, photoionization and ionization via charge exchange with solar wind protons. The data directories: 1-10 Combined Maps in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame Note: Survival probability correction procedures are documented in the paper in Appendix B. |
Yearly Maps, Survival Probability Corrected, Ram Direction These maps include survival probability corrected data recorded from times when the aperture was pointed towards the hemisphere of the spacecraft’s motion. The data directories: With Compton-Getting 1-5 Combined Years in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame 1-5 Combined Years in Fixed Energy and Inertial Frame Without Compton-Getting 1-5 Combined Years in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame Note: Survival probability correction procedures are documented in the paper in Appendix B. |
Yearly Maps, Survival Probability Corrected, Antiram Direction These maps include survival probability corrected data recorded from times when the aperture was pointed away from the hemisphere of the spacecraft’s motion. The data directories: With Compton-Getting 1-5 Combined Years in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame 1-5 Combined Years in Fixed Energy and Inertial Frame hvset_tabular_antiram_cg_year1 hvset_tabular_antiram_cg_year2 hvset_tabular_antiram_cg_year3 hvset_tabular_antiram_cg_year4 hvset_tabular_antiram_cg_year5 Without Compton-Getting 1-5 Combined Years in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame Note: Survival probability correction procedures are documented in the paper in Appendix B. |
All Hi Data Directories
| All IBEX Hi Data Directories |
IBEX Lo Observing Energetic Neutral Atoms In a Lower Range of Energies
Plots and Data Directories
6-month Compton-Getting Corrected Maps Compton-Getting maps adjust values after correcting for the speed of the spacecraft in relation to the direction of arrival of the ENAs. The data directories: |
These maps represent the data before any corrections are made for speed of spacecraft or survival probability. The data directories: |
6-months, Compton-Getting and Compton-Getting Tabular Maps adjust values after correcting for the speed of the spacecraft in relation to the direction of arrival of the ENAs and include adjustments taking into account ENA survival probabilty as they move from the outer heliosphere to 1 AU (location of IBEX). Note: Survival probability correction procedures are documented in the paper in Appendix B. |
Survival Probability Lookup Maps Survival Probability Maps account for the loss (extinction) of ENAs due to radiation pressure, photoionization and ionization via charge exchange with solar wind protons. The data directories: 1-10 Combined Maps in Variable Energy and Spacecraft Frame Note: Survival probability correction procedures are documented in the paper in Appendix B. |
All Lo Data Directories
| All IBEX Lo Data Directories |
The -desc.txt files contain summary descriptions of the types and names of data files used to produce the plot files. Here is a listing of hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-desc.txt to illustrate:
Flux transported from 1 AU to 1.0 AU
| Data Type | Sample Filename |
|---|---|
| HS Flux | hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-flux |
| HS Signal/Noise | hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-fsnr |
| HS energies | hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-ener |
| Samples per Pixel | hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-numb |
| Total Exposure | hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-fexp |
| Total Counts Data | hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-cnts |
| Raw Orbit Data | hv60.hide-trp-flux100-hi-2-fraw |
Pixel Size: 6.000 x 6.000 degrees
| Constructed from file(s): |
|---|
| o0011-hv60.hide-trp-flux1au-hi-2.txt |
| o0012-hv60.hide-trp-flux1au-hi-2.txt |
| o0013-hv60.hide-trp-flux1au-hi-2.txt |
| . . . |
| o0034-hv60.hide-trp-flux1au-hi-2.txt |
With additional parameters:
data spread 6 spin-ward 7 sun-ward degrees
with range 7 spin-ward 7 sun-ward degrees
variance weighting disabled
exposure weighting enabled
nearest neighbor disabled
Normal de-ram corrections
Longitude-aligned orbit frames
Sun-ward range decreases towards NEP
Additional supporting files:
o0011-hv60.hide-trp-fvar1au-hi-2.txt
o0012-hv60.hide-trp-fvar1au-hi-2.txt
o0013-hv60.hide-trp-fvar1au-hi-2.txt
. . .
o0034-hv60.hide-trp-fvar1au-hi-2.txt
o0011-hv60.hide-trp-fexp1au-hi-2.txt
o0012-hv60.hide-trp-fexp1au-hi-2.txt
o0013-hv60.hide-trp-fexp1au-hi-2.txt
. . .
o0034-hv60.hide-trp-fexp1au-hi-2.txt
o0011-hv60.hide-trp-cnts1au-hi-2.txt
o0012-hv60.hide-trp-cnts1au-hi-2.txt
o0013-hv60.hide-trp-cnts1au-hi-2.txt
. . .
o0034-hv60.hide-trp-cnts1au-hi-2.txt
plot_title: 60d: hv60 hide trp ener_title: ~0.71 keV
NOTE: Intermediate files, such as those listed as 'Constructed from" or "Additional supporting", are not provided as part of the Data Release.
Mono-Energetic Global Flux Maps
Some of the directories also contain a set of variable energy maps interpolated/extrapolated to a fixed energy.
The energy chosen is that of the center of the ESA channel in the s/c frame. These file
names are similar to the variable energy file names. E.g. hv60.hide-trp-mono_80-1.11-flux, is the hv60 cull, the hide data type (direct events from Hi), coincidence type
trp (triples), extrapolated to energy 1.11 keV (ESA channel 3).
There are fewer members to this family of products:
- flux: the flux estimate
- fvar: the variance (sigma squared) of the estimate
- fsnr: the signal-to-noise (flux/sigma) of the estimate
- desc: processing options
- parm-0: which contains the average spectral slope.
File Headers
Each individual data product file features a header describing the processing options used to create it. Here is the header from one such file. int the data file, the comment header would be followed by an array of numbers formatted per line based on the numbers 30x60 (30 rows by 60 columns) in the first line, or 30 rows of declination by 60 columns of right ascension values. The data value units are provided in either the "desc=" or "title=" entries.
# 27:30x60:-5.0x-5.0:7x6:0:7
#
# Sat Sep 1 19:53:41 2012
#
# flux_translate
#
# -s matrix
#
# -0 dec (addresses incr. downwards)
# -1 ra (addresses incr. left->right)
#
# h_min=0.000000 h_max=559.000000 h_title='Total Counts'
# min_0=-90 max_0=90 num_0=30 title_0='Dec (deg)'
# min_1=0 max_1=360 num_1=60 title_1='R.A. (deg)'
# desc="'flux (ENAs / cm^2 s sr keV)'"
# skyframe=ECLIPJ2000 posframe=J2000
#
# chat=0 smearspread='0/0/0' calc='0/0/0'
# frame_epoch=914629271.873 resp_class=hi_triple zaxis_ra_deg=+274.476346 zaxis_dec_deg=-22.782473
# ram_ra_deg=+187.1048 ram_dec_deg=-3.4879 mtype_list='05,0A,0E' energy_list='12'
# rate_factor='1000' bg_rate=0.05870 bg_rvar=.0000012100 e_nominal='0.71'
# g_factor='0.000406114' inv_method='it3ptfive,20,0.5,f,h,1.5625' meth_opts='20,0.500000,f,h,1.562500'
Calculation Notes
Spectral figures in the paper were derived from maps at different energies.
Combined maps were calculated as:
(example of combining the first three maps)
;Weights (exposure times)
wt1=tau1/(tau1+tau2+tau3)
wt2=tau2/(tau1+tau2+tau3)
wt3=tau3/(tau1+tau2+tau3)
;Combined fluxes, Variances, signal-to-noise
flux=flux1*wt1 + flux2*wt2 + flux3*wt3
var=var1*(wt1)^2 + var2*(wt2)^2 + var3*(wt3)^2
snr=flux/( sqrt(var) )