 |
| Titel |
On the effect of IMF turning on ion dynamics at Mercury |
| VerfasserIn |
D. C. Delcourt, T. E. Moore, M.-C. H. Fok |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
|
| Sprache |
Englisch
|
| ISSN |
0992-7689
|
| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Annales Geophysicae ; 29, no. 6 ; Nr. 29, no. 6 (2011-06-10), S.987-996 |
| Datensatznummer |
250017032
|
| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/angeo-29-987-2011.pdf |
|
|
|
|
|
| Zusammenfassung |
| We investigate the effect of a rotation of the
Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) on the transport of magnetospheric ion
populations at Mercury. We focus on ions of planetary origin and investigate
their large-scale circulation using three-dimensional single-particle
simulations. We show that a nonzero BX component of the IMF leads to a
pronounced asymmetry in the overall circulation pattern. In particular, we
demonstrate that the centrifugal acceleration due to curvature of the
E × B drift paths is more pronounced in one
hemisphere than the other, leading to filling of the magnetospheric lobes
and plasma sheet with more or less energetic material depending upon the
hemisphere of origin. Using a time-varying electric and magnetic field
model, we investigate the response of ions to rapid (a few tens of seconds)
re-orientation of the IMF. We show that, for ions with gyroperiods
comparable to the field variation time scale, the inductive electric field
should lead to significant nonadiabatic energization, up to several hundreds
of eVs or a few keVs. It thus appears that IMF turning at Mercury should
lead to localized loading of the magnetosphere with energetic material of
planetary origin (e.g., Na+). |
| |
|
| Teil von |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|