Variation of sodium on Mercury with solar radiation pressure

Details Variation of sodium on Mercury with solar radiation pressure Variation of sodium on Mercury with solar radiation pressure

Sep 1987

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987icar...71..472p&link_type=abstract

(The Planet Mercury Conference, Tucson, AZ, Aug. 6-9, 1986) Icarus (ISSN 0019-1035), vol. 71, Sept. 1987, p. 472-477.

Computer Science

46

Mercury (Planet), Mercury Atmosphere, Planetary Composition, Radiation Pressure, Sodium Vapor, Solar Radiation, Elastic Scattering, Emission Spectra, High Resolution, High Temperature, Mercury Surface, Radial Velocity, Mercury (Planet), Sodium, Solar Radiation, Pressure, Atmosphere, Models, Acceleration, Velocity, Abundance, Temperature, Emissions, Density, Earth-Based Observations, Telescope Methods, Data, Spectra, Analysis

Scientific paper

Sodiums atoms in the atmosphere of Mercury can be accelerated by solar radiation pressure, and several authors have suggested that radiation pressure could sweep sodium off the planet. As a consequence, the sodium abundance might be expected to decrease as the radiation pressure increases. The authors have measured the average sodium abundance over a range of solar radiation pressures and found that the sodium abundance does decrease with increasing radiation pressure. Possible explanations for the observed variation are (1) that radiation pressure sweeps away transient high-velocity sodium atoms generated upon meteoric material impacts, thus reducing the supply rate of sodium, or (2) that the accommodation coefficient of sodium for surface interactions is less than unity, so that radiation pressure can effectively push sodium to the dark side of the planet, where it cannot be detected by scattered sunlight.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Variation of sodium on Mercury with solar radiation pressure 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 Variation of sodium on Mercury with solar radiation pressure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Variation of sodium on Mercury with solar radiation pressure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1675679