Journal article
Photoemission and electrostatic potentials on the dayside lunar surface in the terrestrial magnetotail lobes
Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(11), pp.5276-5282
06/16/2017
DOI: 10.1002/2017GL073419
PMCID: PMC7786453
PMID: 33414571
Abstract
Despite the need to accurately predict and assess the lunar electrostatic environment in all ambient conditions that the Moon encounters, photoemission and electrostatic potentials on the dayside lunar surface in the terrestrial magnetotail lobes remain poorly characterized. We study characteristics and variabilities of lunar photoelectron energy spectra by utilizing Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS) and Apollo measurements in combination with the Flare Irradiance Spectral Model (FISM). We confirm that the photoelectron spectral shapes are consistent between ARTEMIS and Apollo and that the photoelectron flux is linearly correlated with the FISM solar photon flux. We develop an observation‐based model of lunar photoelectron energy distributions, thereby deriving the current balance surface potential. The model predicts that dayside lunar surface potentials in the tail lobes (typically tens of volts) could increase by a factor of 2–3 during strong solar flares.
Key Points
First direct confirmation of correlation between lunar surface photoelectron flux and solar photon flux
Develops an observation‐based model of emitted photoelectron energy spectra from lunar soil
Dayside lunar surface potentials in the Earth's tail lobes could increase by a factor of 2–3 during strong solar flares
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Photoemission and electrostatic potentials on the dayside lunar surface in the terrestrial magnetotail lobes
- Creators
- Y Harada - University of California, BerkeleyA. R Poppe - University of California, BerkeleyJ. S Halekas - University of IowaP. C Chamberlin - Goddard Space Flight CenterJ. P McFadden - University of California, Berkeley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(11), pp.5276-5282
- DOI
- 10.1002/2017GL073419
- PMID
- 33414571
- PMCID
- PMC7786453
- NLM abbreviation
- Geophys Res Lett
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- German Center for Aviation and Space (DLR) (50 OC 0302) NASA (NAS5-02099) German Ministry for the Economy and Technology
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/16/2017
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199699702771
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