Mathematics
Scientific paper
Apr 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994itps...22..173b&link_type=abstract
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (ISSN 0093-3813), vol. 22, no. 2, p. 173-178
Mathematics
12
Charged Particles, Dust, Electrostatics, Magnetospheres, Mars (Planet), Plasma Interactions, Electromagnetic Fields, Mars Environment, Mass Spectrometers, Mathematical Models, Spacecraft
Scientific paper
According to present theoretical models, material ejected from the Martian satellite Phobos due to meteoroid bombardment and tidal coupling can stay for a long time in circular orbits near the planet, forming a dust belt. The dust particles are moving through various plasma domains of the Martian magnetosphere and may undergo electrostatic disruption there, producing very fine motes in the range 0.005-0.1 micron which can stay positively charged for a time comparable with the orbital period. A negatively charged spacecraft will attract such particle and an ion spectrometer with wide enough mass range (1 - 10(exp 8) amu/Q, where Q is the particle charge) may detect these grains. Our model can explain observations made by the ASPERA mass spectrometer during the PHOBOS mission when signals in the mass channels 10(exp 3)-10(exp 7) amu were detected inside the Martian magnetosphere. The evolution of a grain orbiting Mars is shown in a diagram of the particle size-particle potential. Such a diagram gives a qualitative picture of the grain interaction with the Martian plasma environment.
Barabash Stas
Lundin Richard
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