Kinetic modeling of neutral and ionized components of the lunar exosphere
Abstract
The theoretical analysis of both observational data of the lunar exosphere that has been collected already as well as prediction and calibration of measurements that will be performed by ongoing and planned space missions is complicated by a large number of processes that have to be considered. As a result, a numerical simulation is the only approach that allows development of a model that accounts for all the most important processes occurring in the lunar environment in a self-consistent manner. The ultimate goal of efforts that are presented here is the development of a model that would include neutral and ionized components of the lunar environment and account for their interaction with the solar wind and the magnetosphere of the Earth. The model will be applied to study processes occurring within the lunar exosphere at different positions along the lunar orbit, for different solar wind conditions, as well as to study the influence of the Moon on the magnetosphere of the Earth. Being developed within the framework of the Monte Carlo methods, the model will solve the Vlasov equation for ions and neutral components of the lunar exosphere. We will present current results of the model’s development.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFM.P23C1267T
- Keywords:
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- 0328 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE / Exosphere;
- 6250 PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS / Moon