Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p44a..08h&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P44A-08
Physics
Plasma Physics
[6235] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mercury, [7845] Space Plasma Physics / Particle Acceleration, [7846] Space Plasma Physics / Plasma Energization
Scientific paper
On 18 March 2011, the MESSENGER spacecraft entered into orbit about Mercury and began the primary phase of its mission. Observations of energetic (energy E >30 keV) particle bursts commenced soon after orbit insertion and continued thereafter. The observations have been made with MESSENGER's Energetic Particle Spectrometer, which was designed to separate the electron and ion components expected to be present within Mercury's magnetosphere, on the basis of the flyby observations of Mariner 10. Analysis of the data so far has revealed that these bursts of energetic electrons occur regularly close to the planet and individually last for periods from seconds to hours . The electron energies extend, at times, up to 200 keV, but the energy spectrum often exhibits a precipitous cutoff at > 100 keV. The distribution of these electrons is well organized by the B, L coordinate system for the offset-dipole model deduced from MESSENGER Magnetometer data. However, there is no evidence that the electrons execute complete drift paths around the planet. Contrary to the reports from Mariner 10, there is as yet no evidence of energetic protons. We conclude that there are transient acceleration mechanisms operating within the magnetosphere of Mercury leading to acceleration of energetic electrons to many tens of keV energy. However, at least under the recent solar wind driving conditions we see no evidence of permanent trapping of these electrons into radiation belts similar to the Van Allen belts at Earth at higher (MeV) energies.
Anderson Benjamin J.
Baker Daniel N.
Gold Robert E.
Ho George C.
Korth Haje
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