Limits on the Density of the Lunar Ionosphere: ARTEMIS Observations

Han-Wen Shen; Jasper Halekas; Andrew Poppe

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ad054b

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Limits on the Density of the Lunar Ionosphere: ARTEMIS Observations

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Limits on the Density of the Lunar Ionosphere: ARTEMIS Observations

Han-Wen Shen, Jasper Halekas and Andrew Poppe

The Astrophysical journal, Vol.958(2), 165

12/01/2023

DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad054b

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Abstract

The Moon of our Earth has a tenuous atmosphere, known as an exosphere. The ionization of this exosphere is speculated to possibly form a weak ionosphere. Some radio occultation (RO) experiments have suggested the presence of a dense ionosphere with an electron density on the order of hundreds of cm−3 near the surface. Using in situ measurements from the ARTEMIS mission during 2012–2021, we conduct statistical analyses and case studies to investigate the plasma density at near-surface altitudes. ARTEMIS measurements reveal no plasma densities at altitudes between 10 and 50 km that exceed 35 cm−3, and therefore they provide no evidence for a steady-state or global lunar ionosphere at the level suggested by some RO observations. Density profiles with local time and altitude show higher density in the sunlit sector than in the shadowed sector. These observations suggest that the natural variation of solar wind plasma flux with solar zenith angle plays a critical role in controlling the plasma population near the surface. This research provides a reference for a comparison with RO observations and a statistical view of the low-altitude plasma environment near the lunar surface.

Ionosphere

Altitude

Electron density

Exosphere

In situ measurement

Ionization

Low altitude

Lunar surface

Moon

Plasma

Plasma density

Radio occultation

Solar wind

Space missions

Statistical analysis

Details

Title: Subtitle: Limits on the Density of the Lunar Ionosphere: ARTEMIS Observations
Creators: Han-Wen Shen
Jasper Halekas - University of Iowa
Andrew Poppe - University of California, Berkeley
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Astrophysical journal, Vol.958(2), 165
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad054b
ISSN: 0004-637X
eISSN: 1538-4357
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100014537, name: NASA ∣ Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, award: 80NSSC20M0022; DOI: 10.13039/100014537, name: NASA ∣ Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, award: 80NSSC20M0060; DOI: 10.13039/100014537, name: NASA ∣ Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, award: 80NSSC20K0311
Language: English
Date published: 12/01/2023
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984516959802771

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