Journal article
Solar wind interaction with lunar crustal magnetic anomalies
Advances in space research, Vol.41(8), pp.1319-1324
2008
DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2007.04.003
Abstract
Using Lunar Prospector data, we review the magnetic field and electron signatures of solar wind interaction with lunar crustal magnetic sources. Magnetic field amplifications, too large to represent direct measurements of crustal fields, appear in the solar wind over strong crustal sources, with the chance of observing these amplifications depending on upstream solar wind parameters. We often observe increases in low-energy (≲100
eV) electron energy fluxes simultaneously with large magnetic field amplifications, consistent with an increase in plasma density across a shock surface. We also often observe low frequency wave activity in the magnetic field data (both broadband turbulence and monochromatic waves), often associated with electron energization, sometimes up to keV energies. Electron energization appears to be correlated more closely with wave activity than with magnetic amplifications. Detailed studies of the interaction region will be necessary in order to understand the physics of the Moon–solar wind interaction. At present, the Moon represents the only natural laboratory available to us to study solar wind interaction with small-scale crustal magnetic fields, though simulation results and theoretical work can also help us understand the physical processes at work.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Solar wind interaction with lunar crustal magnetic anomalies
- Creators
- J.S Halekas - University of California, BerkeleyD.A Brain - University of California, BerkeleyR.P Lin - University of California, BerkeleyD.L Mitchell - University of California, Berkeley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Advances in space research, Vol.41(8), pp.1319-1324
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.asr.2007.04.003
- ISSN
- 0273-1177
- eISSN
- 1879-1948
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2008
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199757802771
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