Surface-Exosphere-Magnetosphere System Of Mercury

Milillo, A.; Würz, Peter; Orsini, S.; Delcourt, Dominique; Kallio, Esa; Killen, R. M.; Lämmer, H.; Massetti, S.; Mura, A.; Barabash, S.; Cremonese, G.; Daglis, Ioannis A.; Angelis, E. De; Lellis, A. M. Di; Livi, S.; Mangano, V.; Torkar, K.

doi:10.1007/s11214-005-3593-z

Cited by 77 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 133 publications

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“…The sputtered population is estimated to be not negligible in the more energetic part of the planetary exospheres (≥10 eV, see e.g. : [18,19]). In fact, the energy distribution of the released neutral atoms via ion-sputtering peaks at few eVs but its tail includes remarkable fluxes up to hundreds of eVs [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exosphere generation of the Moon investigated through a high-energy neutral detector

et al. 2010

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Observation of the lunar exosphere is a tool for remote sensing of the surface properties. The sources of this exosphere are related to the interactions of the lunar surface with the solar radiation, with the solar wind or Earth's magnetospheric plasma, and with the interplanetary dust and meteorites. In fact, the exospheric particles are continuously created and subsequently lost in the interplanetary space, photo-ionized or re-adsorbed by the surface. Eventually, the estimation of the surface composition is not possible without the knowledge of the active release mechanisms. The relative weight of the different release processes of the various atoms, ions and molecules from the surface is still an open debate. Investigation of the Moon's release processes and interaction with the near-Earth environment is of crucial importance for both determining the relative process release contribution and understanding the surface evolution of other airless bodies, like Mercury and the giant planets' moons. In this work, an attempt to analyze the processes that take place on the surface of these small airless bodies, as a result of their exposure to the space environment, has been realized by means of the MonteCarlo Environment Simulation Tool (EST), applied to the Moon. The model results show that the different release processes can be identified by analysing the exospheric energy distribution. Finally, the instrument concept A. Milillo (B) ·

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exosphere generation of the Moon investigated through a high-energy neutral detector

et al. 2010

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“…15 As reported in Richardson et al (2004). 16 As reported in Milillo et al (2005). 17 As reported in Kivelson et al (2004, Table 21.1).…”

Section: A Synthetic View Of Space Weather All Over the Solar Systemmentioning

confidence: 77%

Planetary space weather: scientific aspects and future perspectives

Plainaki

Lilensten

Radioti

et al. 2016

J. Space Weather Space Clim.

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In this paper, we review the scientific aspects of planetary space weather at different regions of our Solar System, performing a comparative planetology analysis that includes a direct reference to the circum-terrestrial case. Through an interdisciplinary analysis of existing results based both on observational data and theoretical models, we review the nature of the interactions between the environment of a Solar System body other than the Earth and the impinging plasma/radiation, and we offer some considerations related to the planning of future space observations. We highlight the importance of such comparative studies for data interpretations in the context of future space missions (e.g. ESA JUICE; ESA/JAXA BEPI COLOMBO). Moreover, we discuss how the study of planetary space weather can provide feedback for better understanding the traditional circumterrestrial space weather. Finally, a strategy for future global investigations related to this thematic is proposed.

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“…The creation of exospheric neutrals involves four competing processes: photo-sputtering, thermal 1 desorption, particle sputtering and meteoric impact . (e.g., Killen and Ip, 1999;Milillo et al, 2005). All of these processes and how the MESSENGER measurements will contribute to our understanding of them are discussed in detail in a companion article by Domingue et al (2005).…”

Section: Magnetosphere?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Launched on November 2, 1973, Mariner 10 (M10) executed the first reconnaissance of Mercury during its three encounters on March 29, 1974, September 21, 1974, and March 16, 1975 (see reviews by Russell et al, 1988;Slavin, 2004;Milillo et al, 2005). All fly-bys occurred at a heliocentric distance of 0.46 AU, but only the first (Mercury I) and third (Mercury m) encounters passed close enough to Mercury to return observations of the solar wind interaction and the planetary magnetic field.…”

Section: Introduction: What Do We Presently Know and How Do We Know It?mentioning

confidence: 99%

MESSENGER: Exploring Mercury’s Magnetosphere

Slavin¹,

Krimigis²,

Acuña³

et al.

The Messenger Mission to Mercury

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Abstract. The MESSENGER mission to Mercury offers our first opportunity to explore this planet's miniature magnetosphere since the brief flybys of Mariner 10. Mercury's magnetosphere is unique in many respects. The magnetosphere of Mercury is among the smallest in the solar system; its magnetic field typically stands off the solar wind only -1000 to 2000 km above the surface. For this reason there are no closed drift paths for energetic particles and, hence, no radiation belts. The characteristic time scales for wave propagation and convective transport are short and kinetic and fluid modes may be coupled. Magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause may erode the subsolar magnetosphere allowing solar wind ions to impact directly the regolith. Inductive currents in Mercury's interior may act to modify the solar wind interaction by resisting changes due to solar wind pressure variations. Indeed, observations of these induction effects may be an important source of information on the state of Mercury's interior. In addition, Mercury's magnetosphere is the only one with its defining magnetic flux tubes rooted in a planetary regolith as opposed to an atmosphere with a conductive ionospheric layer. This lack of an ionosphere is probably the underlying reason for the brevity of the very intense, but short-lived, -1-2 min, substorm-like energetic particle events observed by Mariner 10 during its first traversal of Mercury's magnetic tail. Because of Mercury's proximity to the sun, 0.3 -0.5 AU, this magnetosphere experiences the most extreme driving forces in the solar system. All of these factors are expected to produce complicated interactions involving the exchange and re-cycling of neutrals and ions between the solar wind, magnetosphere, and regolith. The electrodynamics of Mercury's magnetosphere are expected to be equally complex, with strong forcing by the solar wind, magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause and in the tail, and the pick-up of planetary ions all driving field-aligned electric currents.However, these field-aligned currents do not close in an ionosphere, but in some other manner. In addition to the insights-into magnetospheric physics offered by study of the solar wind -Mercury system, quantitative specification of the "external" magnetic field generated by magnetospheric currents is necessary for accurate determination of the strength and multi-polar decomposition of Mercury's intrinsic magnetic field.MESSENGER'S highly capable instrumentation and broad orbital coverage will greatly advance our understanding of both the origin of Mercury's magnetic field and the acceleration of charged particles in small magnetospheres. In. this article, we review what is known about Mercury's magnetosphere and describe the MESSENGER science team's strategy for obtaining answers to the outstanding science questions surrounding the interaction of the solar wind with Mercury and its small, but dynamic, magnetosphere.2

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Surface-Exosphere-Magnetosphere System Of Mercury

Cited by 77 publications

References 133 publications

Exosphere generation of the Moon investigated through a high-energy neutral detector

Exosphere generation of the Moon investigated through a high-energy neutral detector

Planetary space weather: scientific aspects and future perspectives

MESSENGER: Exploring Mercury’s Magnetosphere

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