The sodium exosphere and magnetosphere of Mercury

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D Lines, Exosphere, Mercury (Planet), Planetary Atmospheres, Planetary Magnetospheres, Sodium Vapor, Astronomical Models, Atmospheric Models, Mercury (Planet), Sodium, Exosphere, Magnetosphere, Emissions, Pressure, Solar Wind, Acceleration, Escape, Ejection, Velocity, Photoionization, Source, Plasma, Charged Particles, Circulation, Sputtering, Ions

Scientific paper

Following the recent optical discovery of intense sodium D-line emission from Mercury, the scenario of an extended exosphere of sodium and other metallic atoms is explored. It is shown that the strong effect of solar radiation pressure acceleration would permit the escape of Na atoms from Mercury's surface even if they are ejected at a velocity lower than the surface escape velocity. Fast photoionization of the Na atoms is effective in limiting the tailward extension of the sodium exosphere, however. The subsequent loss of the photoions to the magnetosphere could be a significant source of the magnetospheric plasma. The recirculation of the magnetospheric charged particles to the planetary surface could also play an important role in maintaining an extended sodium exosphere as well as a magnetosphere of sputtered metallic ions.

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