The Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument on the ESA Solar Orbiter mission is described in this paper. This instrument is designed to measure in-situ magnetic and electric fields and waves from the continuous to a few hundreds of kHz. RPW will also observe solar radio emissions up to 16 MHz. The RPW instrument is of primary importance to the Solar Orbiter mission and science requirements since it is essential to answer three of the four mission overarching science objectives. In addition RPW will exchange on-board data with the other in-situ instruments in order to process algorithms for interplanetary shocks and type III langmuir waves detections.

This paper presents particle flux measurements (protons and electrons) obtained with the ICARE-NG detector on the JASON-2 orbit (1336 km alt., 66 incl.) for the period June 2008-Aug. 2010. At this altitude, the South Atlantic Anomaly is greatly broadened as compared to lower altitudes. Proton flux measurements are made in the range 27.5-290 MeV and electron flux in the range 1.6-3.6 MeV. A great care was taken to assess the influence of the satellite on the particle measurements. Comparison of measurements with the results of the AP8 MIN model are given for protons, taken into account environment anisotropy.

Context. Impacts of dust grains on spacecraft are known to produce typical impulsive signals in the voltage waveform recorded at the terminals of electric antennas. Such signals (as may be expected) are routinely detected by the Time Domain Sampler (TDS) system of the Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument on board Solar Orbiter. Aims. We investigate the capabilities of RPW in terms of interplanetary dust studies and present the first analysis of dust impacts recorded by this instrument. Our purpose is to characterize the dust population observed in terms of size, flux, and velocity. Methods. We briefly discuss previously developed models of voltage pulse generation after a dust impact onto a spacecraft and present the relevant technical parameters for Solar Orbiter RPW as a dust detector. Then we present the statistical analysis of the dust impacts recorded by RPW/TDS from April 20, 2020 to February 27, 2021 between 0.5 AU and 1 AU. Results. The study of the dust impact rate along Solar Orbiter’s orbit shows that the dust population studied presents a radial velocity component directed outward from the Sun. Its order of magnitude can be roughly estimated as vr, dust ≃ 50 km s−1, which is consistent with the flux of impactors being dominated by β-meteoroids. We estimate the cumulative flux of these grains at 1 AU to be roughly Fβ ≃ 8 × 10−5 m−2 s−1 for particles of a radius r ≳ 100 nm. The power law index δ of the cumulative mass flux of the impactors is evaluated by two differents methods, namely: direct observations of voltage pulses and indirect effect on the impact rate dependency on the impact speed. Both methods give the following result: δ ≃ 0.3 − 0.4. Conclusions. Solar Orbiter RPW proves to be a suitable instrument for interplanetary dust studies, and the dust detection algorithm implemented in the TDS subsystem an efficient tool for fluxes estimation. These first results are promising for the continuation of the mission, in particular, for the in situ study of the inner Solar System dust cloud outside of the ecliptic plane, which Solar Orbiter will be the first spacecraft to explore.

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Context. Solar wind evolution differs from a simple radial expansion, while wave-particle interactions are assumed to be the major cause for the observed dynamics of the electron distribution function. In particular, whistler waves are thought to inhibit the electron heat flux and ensure the diffusion of the field-aligned energetic electrons (Strahl electrons) to replenish the halo population. Aims. The goal of our study is to detect and characterize the electromagnetic waves that have the capacity to modify the electron distribution functions, with a special focus on whistler waves. Methods. We carried out a detailed analysis of the electric and magnetic field fluctuations observed by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft during its first orbit around the Sun, between 0.5 and 1 AU. Using data from the Search Coil Magnetometer and electric antenna, both part of the Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrumental suite, we detected the electromagnetic waves with frequencies above 3 Hz and determined the statistical distribution of their amplitudes, frequencies, polarization, and k-vector as a function of distance. Here, we also discuss the relevant instrumental issues regarding the phase between the electric and magnetic measurements as well as the effective length of the electric antenna. Results. An overwhelming majority of the observed waves are right-handed circularly polarized in the solar wind frame and identified as outwardly propagating quasi-parallel whistler waves. Their occurrence rate increases by a least a factor of 2 from 1 AU to 0.5 AU. These results are consistent with the regulation of the heat flux by the whistler heat flux instability. Near 0.5 AU, whistler waves are found to be more field-aligned and to have a smaller normalized frequency (f/fce), larger amplitude, and greater bandwidth than at 1 AU.