Why an intrinsic magnetic field does not protect a planet against atmospheric escape

Gunell, HerbertUmeå universitet,Institutionen för fysik,Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Belgium (author)

The presence or absence of a magnetic field determines the nature of how a planet interacts with the solar wind and what paths are available for atmospheric escape. Magnetospheres form both around magnetised planets, such as Earth, and unmagnetised planets, like Mars and Venus, but it has been suggested that magnetised planets are better protected against atmospheric loss. However, the observed mass escape rates from these three planets are similar (in the approximate (0.5–2) kg s−1 range), putting this latter hypothesis into question. Modelling the effects of a planetary magnetic field on the major atmospheric escape processes, we show that the escape rate can be higher for magnetised planets over a wide range of magnetisations due to escape of ions through the polar caps and cusps. Therefore, contrary to what has previously been believed, magnetisation is not a sufficient condition for protecting a planet from atmospheric loss. Estimates of the atmospheric escape rates from exoplanets must therefore address all escape processes and their dependence on the planet’s magnetisation.

Maggiolo, RomainRoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Belgium (author)
Nilsson, HansSwedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden(Swepub:umu)hani0062 (author)
Stenberg Wieser, GabriellaSwedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden (author)
Slapak, RikardEISCAT Scientific Association, Kiruna, Sweden (author)
Lindkvist, Jesper,1986-Umeå universitet,Institutionen för fysik(Swepub:umu)jeli0142 (author)
Hamrin, Maria,1972-Umeå universitet,Institutionen för fysik(Swepub:umu)maha0006 (author)
De Keyser, JohanRoyal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Belgium (author)
Umeå universitetInstitutionen för fysik (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Gunell, Herbert; Maggiolo, Romain; Nilsson, Hans; Stenberg Wieser, ...; Slapak, Rikard; Lindkvist, Jespe ...; show more...; Hamrin, Maria, 1 ...; De Keyser, Johan; show less...

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Physical Science ...; and Fusion Plasma an ...

Kungliga biblioteket hanterar dina personuppgifter i enlighet med EU:s dataskyddsförordning (2018), GDPR. Läs mer om hur det funkar här.
Så här hanterar KB dina uppgifter vid användning av denna tjänst.