Modeled Ion and Neutral Particle Distributions around Jupiter’s Moon Europa

Details Modeled Ion and Neutral Particle Distributions around Jupiter’s Moon Europa Modeled Ion and Neutral Particle Distributions around Jupiter’s Moon Europa

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufmsm23b1608r&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #SM23B-1608

Physics

[5405] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Atmospheres, [5421] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Interactions With Particles And Fields, [5443] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Magnetospheres, [6221] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Europa

Scientific paper

Jupiter’s moon Europa has a thin gravitationally bound neutral atmosphere which is mostly created through sputtering of high energy ions impacting on its icy surface. In a first step we will simulate the interaction of Europa with the Jovian magnetosphere by using the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model BATSRUS. Starting from the model used by Kabin et al. [JGR, Vol. 104, No. A9, (1999)] which accounts for the exospheric mass loading, ion-neutral charge exchange, and recombination we will further use the resistive MHD equations addressing the finite electron diffusivity. These results, including the magnetic field topology, are then used to calculate the Lorentz forces for our test particle Monte Carlo model. We use this model to simulate Europa’s plasma and neutral environment by tracking particles created on the moon’s surface by sputtering or sublimation, through dissociation and/or ionization in the atmosphere, or entering the system from Jupiter’s magnetosphere as high energy ions. Neutral particle trajectories are followed by solving the equation of motion in Europa’s gravity field whereas the ion population is additionally subject to the Lorentz force. We will show preliminary results of this work with application to the missions to the Jupiter system currently under consideration by NASA (JEO) and ESA (JGO).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Modeled Ion and Neutral Particle Distributions around Jupiter’s Moon Europa 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 Modeled Ion and Neutral Particle Distributions around Jupiter’s Moon Europa, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modeled Ion and Neutral Particle Distributions around Jupiter’s Moon Europa will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1877990