Exploring geospace via solar wind charge exchange X-rays
Abstract
We propose to investigate the impact of the variable solar wind on the Earth's magnetosphere by taking the global approach afforded by remote sensing, by imaging the solar wind charge exchange X-ray emission from the dayside magnetosheath and the magnetospheric cusps. We propose an ultra-light-weight X-ray telescope with a 10º x 10º FOV capable of encompassing a large part of the primary region of scientific interest centred on the nose of the magnetopause and covering both magnetospheric cusps together. This will lead to having long term, semi-continuous monitoring of the response and evolution of geospace conditions under the buffeting of the solar wind and will expand very significantly the coverage available at any one time to the X-ray imager currently being developed for SMILE. Ultimately this will provide direct scientific input to the studies of space weather and to the validation of global models of solar wind-magnetosphere interactions, leading to the mitigation of the possibly disastrous effects of space weather on Earth's technological infrastructure and human life and health.
- Publication:
-
European Planetary Science Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018EPSC...12..937B