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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 

Index Terms

  • Magnetospheric Physics: Solar wind interactions with unmagnetized bodies
  • Planetology: Solar System Objects: Mars
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Numerical modeling
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Planetary atmospheres
  • Interplanetary Physics: Energetic particles, planetary
Abstract
Cited By (1)
 

Abstract

Martian hydrogen exosphere charge exchange with solar wind

Y. Chen

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA

P. A. Cloutier

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA

Charge exchange of solar wind with the Martian exosphere has been shown to play a crucial role in the formation of the magnetic pileup boundary observed by Mars Global Surveyor. However, the question of how the Martian exospheric structure is quantitatively altered by charge exchange of the solar wind remains open. To answer this question, a three-dimensional Monte Carlo exosphere model was developed. In this model the effects of planetary rotation, photoionization, Lyman α scattering, and charge exchange with the solar wind are included. Although the change of exospheric density profile is indistinctive, simulation results show that the existence of the hot atomic hydrogen population produced by charge exchange alters the exospheric temperature structure greatly and the symmetry of the exospheric structure is totally destroyed at high altitude. Another noticeable phenomenon is that charge exchange and Lyman α scattering combine to make the nightside exosphere be cooler than and expand more slowly than the ambient exosphere. In the end we use our simulation results to estimate the contribution of the hot component to Ly α emission. Furthermore, output of our model can be used to predict particle observations made by future missions to Mars.

Received 23 July 2002; accepted 30 July 2003; published 29 October 2003.

Citation: Chen, Y., and P. A. Cloutier (2003), Martian hydrogen exosphere charge exchange with solar wind, J. Geophys. Res., 108(A10), 1381, doi:10.1029/2002JA009604.

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