Waves instrument suite for the ESA Plasma Observatory mission

The Waves instrument suite for the ESA Plasma Observatory mission provides coordinated measurements of electromagnetic fields in space plasmas to address key phenomena affecting particle energization, including plasma waves, turbulence, and wave-particle interactions. The suite consists of an Electric Field Instrument (EFI) and a Search Coil Magnetometer (SCM), enabling simultaneous observations of electric and magnetic field fluctuations and the spacecraft potential. Both electric and magnetic sensors are connected to a common electronics unit, BOX-W, which performs synchronized sampling and on-board processing. BOX-W supports both waveform capture and spectral products, enabling efficient use of telemetry while retaining scientifically relevant information. The combined EFI and SCM measurements enable full characterization of electromagnetic fluctuations, facilitating the determination of wave polarization, propagation properties, and energy flux.