Time-Dependent Hybrid Plasma Simulations of Lunar Electromagnetic Induction in the Solar Wind
Abstract
Determining the current state, structure, and composition of the Moon's interior is of prime importance within the field of planetary geophysics. These characteristics have implications that may help to advance theories with regards to the formation and evolution of the Earth-Moon system. Of the available methods to probe the interior, electromagnetic sounding has been proven to provide key constraints. Previous Apollo-era electromagnetic sounding analyses used observations from surface and orbiting magnetometers to constrain the electrical conductivity of the crust, mantle, and core regions of the Moon; however, plasma currents and their associated magnetic fields were assumed to be negligible. Here, we re-assess this assumption using Amitis, a three-dimensional, time-dependent hybrid plasma model with a conducting lunar interior to characterize the electromagnetic fields formed by the lunar wake and the interactions of these fields with geophysically induced fields. Geophysical induced magnetic fields arise from conducting materials within the lunar interior. Our results demonstrate the importance of analyzing electromagnetic sounding of airless bodies within the context of the full plasma-induction interaction.
Fuqua Haviland, H., Poppe, A. R., Fatemi, S., Delory, G. T., & de Pater, I. (2019). Time-dependent hybrid plasma simulations of lunar electromagnetic induction in the solar wind. Geophysical Research Letters, (46), 4151- 4160. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080523- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMSM44A..01F
- Keywords:
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- 2732 Magnetosphere interactions with satellites and rings;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 6218 Jovian satellites;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6250 Moon;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6280 Saturnian satellites;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS