Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.2409j&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #24.09; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.959
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The transition in the nature of thermally-induced atmospheric loss from escape on a molecule by molecules basis (Jeans escape), to an organized outflow (hydrodynamic escape) is calculated using a direct simulation Monte Carlo method. When the heating layer is well below the exobase in a 1D spherically symmetric atmosphere, this transition is shown to occur over a surprisingly narrow range of Jeans parameters near λ 2-3: λ= the gravitational energy of the molecules / kT. This critical Jeans parameter roughly corresponds to the upper limit for isentropic, supersonic outflow. For larger Jeans parameters, the escape rate never deviates significantly from the familiar Jeans rate evaluated at the nominal exobase, contrary to what has been suggested for Pluto and Titan. Scaling by the Jeans parameter, the results presented can be applied to thermal escape from solar and extrasolar planetary bodies.
Erwin Justin T.
Johnson Robert E.
Tucker Orenthal J.
Volkov Alexander
No associations
LandOfFree
Thermally-driven Escape From An Atmosphere: Transition From Jeans To Hydrodynamic Escape 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 Thermally-driven Escape From An Atmosphere: Transition From Jeans To Hydrodynamic Escape, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Thermally-driven Escape From An Atmosphere: Transition From Jeans To Hydrodynamic Escape will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1122328