Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufm.u21a0039b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #U21A-0039
Physics
2740 Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, 2756 Planetary Magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6033), 2760 Plasma Convection (2463), 6235 Mercury, 7827 Kinetic And Mhd Theory
Scientific paper
The second MESSENGER flyby of Mercury on October 6, 2008, will provide new insight into the structure and dynamics of Mercury's small but complex magnetosphere. In this paper, we present an improved global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of the magnetosphere of Mercury that takes into account the data from this most recent flyby. This model uses an updated estimate of the intrinsic magnetic field of the planet by combining fits from two of the Mariner 10 flybys and the two MESSENGER flybys. The results with this new improved dipole will be compared with the pre-encounter dipole derived using only the first MESSENGER flyby data. Our new model also provides clues on how the structure of magnetosphere of Mercury will have changed between the two MESSENGER encounters to adapt to the two different sets of solar wind conditions for each flyby. These changes can be mainly seen in the bow shock and magnetopause positions. But we also show that the effect of the solar wind condition is visible in the reconnection rates and patterns between the solar wind and the intrinsic magnetic field lines, and in the way particles from the plasma sheet convect to the day side of the inner magnetosphere. Finally, we introduce through this model results from including the effect of heavy ions in the MHD scheme. The physical and technical validity of the results will be discussed and compared with results obtained with test particle techniques and hybrid codes.
Baker Daniel N.
Benna Marcus
Boardsen Scott
Purucker Michael E.
Sarantos Menelaos
No associations
LandOfFree
Comparative MHD Models of the First two MESSENGER Flybys of 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 Comparative MHD Models of the First two MESSENGER Flybys of Mercury, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Comparative MHD Models of the First two MESSENGER Flybys of Mercury will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1240974