In-flight calibration of Hot Ion Analyser onboard Cluster.

The Hot Ion Analyser (HIA), part of the Cluster Ion Spectrometry experiment, has the objective to measure the three-dimensional velocity distributions of ions. Due to a variety of factors (exposure to radiation, detector fatigue and aging, changes in the operating parameters etc.), the particles detection efficiency changes over time, prompting for continuous in-flight calibration. This is achieved by comparing the HIA data with the data provided by the WHISPER experiment on magnetosheath intervals, for the high sensitivity section of the instrument, or solar wind intervals, for the low sensitivity section. The paper presents in detail the in-flight calibration methodology, reports on the work carried out for calibrating HIA and discusses plans to extend this activity in order to ensure the instrument highest data accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]