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| Titel |
Ion dynamics during compression of Mercury's magnetosphere |
| VerfasserIn |
D. C. Delcourt, T. E. Moore, M.-C. H. Fok |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
0992-7689
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Annales Geophysicae ; 28, no. 8 ; Nr. 28, no. 8 (2010-08-03), S.1467-1474 |
| Datensatznummer |
250016862
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/angeo-28-1467-2010.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Because of the small planetary magnetic field as well as proximity to the Sun
that leads to enhanced solar wind pressure as compared to Earth, the
magnetosphere of Mercury is very dynamical and at times subjected to
prominent compression. We investigate the dynamics of magnetospheric ions
during such compression events. Using three-dimensional single-particle
simulations, we show that the electric field induced by the time varying
magnetic field can lead to significant ion energization, up to several
hundreds of eVs or a few keVs. This energization occurs in a nonadiabatic
manner, being characterized by large enhancements of the ion magnetic moment
and bunching in gyration phase. It is obtained when the ion cyclotron period
is comparable to the field variation time scale. This condition for
nonadiabatic heating is realized in distinct regions of space for ions with
different mass-to-charge ratios. During compression of Mercury's
magnetosphere, heavy ions originating from the planetary exosphere may be
subjected to such an abrupt energization, leading to loading of the
magnetospheric lobes with energetic material. |
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