MESSENGER Observations of Flux Transfer Events at Mercury

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

[2723] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetic Reconnection, [2740] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, [2756] Magnetospheric Physics / Planetary Magnetospheres, [2788] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetic Storms And Substorms

Scientific paper

The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft entered orbit about Mercury on March 18, 2011. From orbit, MESSENGER has recorded magnetic field observations of strong magnetic reconnection at the dayside and nightside magnetopause. Flux transfer events (FTEs) are identified in the magnetic field measurements on the basis of their flux-rope structure and the traveling compression regions that they produce in the magnetosheath and magnetosphere, respectively. FTEs at Mercury are shown to be only ~ 2-3 s in duration with subsequent FTEs observed every 8 - 10 s. We use the term "FTE showers" to denote extended intervals of quasi-periodic FTE formation involving 100 or more events. Such FTE showers appear to be common at Mercury. The plasma density in the mantle region of the tail is observed to be greatly enhanced during FTE showers due to the injection of new magnetosheath plasma as fresh interplanetary flux tubes are incorporated into the tail. At Mercury, FTEs are major contributors to the magnetic flux transfer; with magnetic flux contents of ~ 0.25 MWb per event, ~ 16 events are sufficient to cycle all of the ~ 4 MWb of magnetic flux to the magnetotail. During a shower, 16 FTEs occur in ~ 128-160 s. A magnetic flux transfer rate of ~ 4 MW/144 s = 28 kV. Hence, MESSENGER's observations of FTE showers strongly supports a Dungey cycle time at Mercury of ~ 2 - 3 min and a dawn-to-dusk electric potential drop across the magnetosphere of ~ 30 kV.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

MESSENGER Observations of Flux Transfer Events at Mercury does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with MESSENGER Observations of Flux Transfer Events at Mercury, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and MESSENGER Observations of Flux Transfer Events at Mercury will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-879405

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.