Lunar surface electric potential changes associated with traversals through the Earth's foreshock

Michael R Collier; H Kent Hills; Timothy J Stubbs; Jasper S Halekas; Gregory T Delory; Jared Espley; William M Farrell; John W Freeman; Richard Vondrak

doi:10.1016/j.pss.2010.12.010

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Lunar surface electric potential changes associated with traversals through the Earth's foreshock

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Lunar surface electric potential changes associated with traversals through the Earth's foreshock

Michael R Collier, H Kent Hills, Timothy J Stubbs, Jasper S Halekas, Gregory T Delory, Jared Espley, William M Farrell, John W Freeman and Richard Vondrak

Planetary and space science, Vol.59(14), pp.1727-1743

2011

DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2010.12.010

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Abstract

We report an analysis of one year of Suprathermal Ion Detector Experiment (SIDE) Total Ion Detector (TID) “resonance” events observed between January 1972 and January 1973. The study includes only those events during which upstream solar wind conditions were readily available. The analysis shows that these events are associated with lunar traversals through the dawn flank of the terrestrial magnetospheric bow shock. We propose that the events result from an increase in lunar surface electric potential effected by secondary electron emission due to primary electrons in the Earth's foreshock region (although primary ions may play a role as well). This work establishes (1) the lunar surface potential changes as the Moon moves through the terrestrial bow shock, (2) the lunar surface achieves potentials in the upstream foreshock region that differ from those in the downstream magnetosheath region, (3) these differences can be explained by the presence of energetic electron beams in the upstream foreshock region and (4) if this explanation is correct, the location of the Moon with respect to the terrestrial bow shock influences lunar surface potential. ► We report an analysis of one year of Apollo 14 SIDE TID “resonance” events. ► These events are associated with lunar traversals through the bow shock. ► The events result from an increase in surface potential due to secondary electrons.

Bow shock

Foreshock

Lunar surface potential

Moon

Secondary electron emission

Details

Title: Subtitle: Lunar surface electric potential changes associated with traversals through the Earth's foreshock
Creators: Michael R Collier - Ames Research Center
H Kent Hills - NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
Timothy J Stubbs - University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Jasper S Halekas - University of California, Berkeley
Gregory T Delory - University of California, Berkeley
Jared Espley - Goddard Space Flight Center
William M Farrell - Ames Research Center
John W Freeman - Rice University
Richard Vondrak - Goddard Space Flight Center
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Planetary and space science, Vol.59(14), pp.1727-1743
DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2010.12.010
ISSN: 0032-0633
eISSN: 1873-5088
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: NNX08AN76G; DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: NNX08AN76G
Language: English
Date published: 2011
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984199737902771

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