| 1. |
- Fatemi, Shahab, et al.
(author)
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The lunar wake current systems
- 2013
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 40:1, s. 17-21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the lunar wake current systems when the Moon is assumed to be a non-conductive body, absorbing the solar wind plasma. We show that in the transition regions between the plasma void, the expanding rarefaction region, and the interplanetary plasma, there are three main currents flowing around these regions in the lunar wake. The generated currents induce magnetic fields within these regions and perturb the field lines there. We use a three-dimensional, self-consistent hybrid model of plasma (particle ions and fluid electrons) to show the flow of these three currents. First, we identify the different plasma regions, separated by the currents, and then we show how the currents depend on the interplanetary magnetic field direction. Finally, we discuss the current closures in the lunar wake.
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| 2. |
- Lue, Charles, et al.
(author)
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Strong influence of lunar crustal fields on the solar wind flow
- 2011
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 38:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We discuss the influence of lunar magnetic anomalies on the solar wind and on the lunar surface, based on maps of solar wind proton fluxes deflected by the magnetic anomalies. The maps are produced using data from the Solar WInd Monitor (SWIM) onboard the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft. We find a high deflection efficiency (average ∼10%, locally ∼50%) over the large-scale (>1000 km) regions of magnetic anomalies. Deflections are also detected over weak (<3 nT at 30 km altitude) and small-scale (<100 km) magnetic anomalies, which might be explained by charge separation and the resulting electric potential. Strong deflection from a wide area implies that the magnetic anomalies act as a magnetosphere-like obstacle, affecting the upstream solar wind. It also reduces the implantation rate of the solar wind protons to the lunar surface, which may affect space weathering near the magnetic anomalies.
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| 3. |
- Poppe, A.R., et al.
(author)
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ARTEMIS observations of extreme diamagnetic fields in the lunar wake
- 2014
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 41:11, s. 3766-3773
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present two Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun ( ARTEMIS) observations of diamagnetic fields in the lunar wake at strengths exceeding twice the ambient magnetic field during high plasma beta conditions. The first observation was 350 km from the lunar surface while the Moon was located in the terrestrial magnetosheath with elevated particle temperatures. The second observation was in the solar wind ranging from 500 to 2000 km downstream, with a relatively low magnetic field strength of approximately 1.6 nT. In both cases, the plasma beta exceeded 10. We discuss the observations and compare the data to hybrid plasma simulations in order to validate the model under such extreme conditions and to elucidate the global structure of the lunar wake during these observations. The extreme nature of the diamagnetic field in the lunar wake provides an important end-member test case for theoretical and modeling studies of the various plasma processes operating in the lunar wake.
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