The light (H+,H2+,He+) and heavy (Na+) pickup ion dynamics in the lunar-like plasma environment: 3D hybrid kinetic modeling

In this report we discuss the self-consistent dynamics of pickup ions in the solar wind flow around the lunar-like object. In our model the solar wind and pickup ions are considered as a particles, whereas the electrons are described as a fluid. Inhomogeneous photoionization, electron-impact ionizat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAdvances in space research Vol. 52; no. 11; pp. 1929 - 1938
Main Authors Lipatov, A.S., Cooper, J.F., Sittler, E.C., Hartle, R.E.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2013
Subjects
Exospheres
Induced magnetospheres
Pickup ions
Plasma modeling
Satellites
Satellites
Induced magnetospheres
Exospheres
Plasma modeling
Pickup ions
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Summary:In this report we discuss the self-consistent dynamics of pickup ions in the solar wind flow around the lunar-like object. In our model the solar wind and pickup ions are considered as a particles, whereas the electrons are described as a fluid. Inhomogeneous photoionization, electron-impact ionization and charge exchange are included in our model. The Moon will be chosen as a basic object for our modeling. The current modeling shows that mass loading by pickup ions H+,H2+,He+, and Na+ may be very important in the global dynamics of the solar wind around the Moon. In our hybrid modeling we use exponential profiles for the exospheric components. The Moon is considered as a weakly conducting body. Special attention will be paid to comparing the modeling pickup ion velocity distribution with ARTEMIS observations. Our modeling shows an asymmetry of the Mach cone due to mass loading, the upstream flow density distribution and the magnetic field. The pickup ions form an asymmetrical plasma tails that may disturb the lunar plasma wake.
ISSN:0273-1177
1879-1948
DOI:10.1016/j.asr.2013.08.023