Double ion beams and accelerated ions observed by SWIDs on Chang'E-1
Abstract
Chang'E-1 is the first Chinese lunar exploration spacecraft launced in 2007. Solar Wind Ion Detectors(SWIDs) are two scientific instruments on Chang'E-1 to measure the solar wind and the plasma environment around the Moon. Some cases of double ion beams in solar wind were observed by SWIDs. These double ion beams present double proton beams with a single alpha beam. Another insteresting phenomenon observed by SWIDs is the accelerated ions when the spacecraft was over the magnetic anomalies. The magnetic anomaly may induce mini-magnetosphere, which was confirmed both by simulation and measurement of some other lunar exploration spacecrafts. The accelerated ions observed by Chang'E-1 may be the result of the interaction of the solar wind and the mini-magnetosphere of the Moon.
- Publication:
-
39th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012cosp...39..966K