Solar Wind: Interaction With Planets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Arridge
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Plasma Physics ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
Space Program ◽  
Solar Wind Interaction ◽  
Radiation Physics

The interaction between the solar wind and planetary bodies in our solar system has been investigated since well before the space age. The study of the aurora borealis and australis was a feature of the Enlightenment and many of the biggest names in science during that period had studied the aurora. Many of the early scientific discoveries that emerged from the burgeoning space program in the 1950s and 1960s were related to the solar wind and its interaction with planets, starting with the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts in 1958. With the advent of deep space missions, such as Venera 4, Pioneer 10, and the twin Voyager spacecraft, the interaction of the solar wind other planets was investigated and has evolved into a sub-field closely allied to planetary science. The variety in solar system objects, from rocky planets with thick atmospheres, to airless bodies, to comets, to giant planets, is reflected in the richness in the physics found in planetary magnetospheres and the solar wind interaction. Studies of the solar wind-planet interaction has become a consistent feature of more recent space missions such as Cassini-Huygens (Saturn), Juno (Jupiter), New Horizons (Pluto) and Rosetta (67/P Churyumov–Gerasimenko), as well more dedicated missions in near-Earth space, such as Cluster and Magnetosphere Multiscale. The field is now known by various terms, including space (plasma) physics and solar-terrestrial physics, but it is an interdisciplinary science involving plasma physics, electromagnetism, radiation physics, and fluid mechanics and has important links with other fields of space science, including solar physics, planetary aeronomy, and planetary geophysics. Increasingly, the field is relying on high-performance computing and methods from data science to answer important questions and to develop predictive capabilities. The article explores the origins of the field, examines discoveries made during the heyday of the space program to the late 1970s and 1980s, and other hot topics in the field.

scholarly journals Menura: a code for simulating the interaction between a turbulent solar wind and solar system bodies

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Behar ◽  
Shahab Fatemi ◽  
Pierre Henri ◽  
Mats Holmström
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Plasma Physics ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Consistent ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Solar System Bodies ◽  
Numerical Tools ◽  
Global Algorithm

Abstract. Despite the close relationship between planetary science and plasma physics, few advanced numerical tools allow to bridge the two topics. The code Menura proposes a breakthrough towards the self-consistent modelling of these overlapping field, in a novel 2-step approach allowing for the global simulation of the interaction between a fully turbulent solar wind and various bodies of the solar system. This article introduces the new code and its 2-step global algorithm, illustrated by a first example: the interaction between a turbulent solar wind and a comet.

scholarly journals Modelling the solar wind interaction with Mercury by a quasi-neutral hybrid model

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 2133-2145 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kallio ◽  
P. Janhunen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Plasma Physics ◽  
Hybrid Model ◽  
Space Plasma ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Space Plasma Physics ◽  
Solar Wind Interaction ◽  
Plasma Parameters ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Self Consistent

Abstract. Quasi-neutral hybrid model is a self-consistent modelling approach that includes positively charged particles and an electron fluid. The approach has received an increasing interest in space plasma physics research because it makes it possible to study several plasma physical processes that are difficult or impossible to model by self-consistent fluid models, such as the effects associated with the ions’ finite gyroradius, the velocity difference between different ion species, or the non-Maxwellian velocity distribution function. By now quasi-neutral hybrid models have been used to study the solar wind interaction with the non-magnetised Solar System bodies of Mars, Venus, Titan and comets. Localized, two-dimensional hybrid model runs have also been made to study terrestrial dayside magnetosheath. However, the Hermean plasma environment has not yet been analysed by a global quasi-neutral hybrid model. In this paper we present a new quasi-neutral hybrid model developed to study various processes associated with the Mercury-solar wind interaction. Emphasis is placed on addressing advantages and disadvantages of the approach to study different plasma physical processes near the planet. The basic assumptions of the approach and the algorithms used in the new model are thoroughly presented. Finally, some of the first three-dimensional hybrid model runs made for Mercury are presented. The resulting macroscopic plasma parameters and the morphology of the magnetic field demonstrate the applicability of the new approach to study the Mercury-solar wind interaction globally. In addition, the real advantage of the kinetic hybrid model approach is to study the property of individual ions, and the study clearly demonstrates the large potential of the approach to address these more detailed issues by a quasi-neutral hybrid model in the future.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (planetary magnetospheres; solar wind-magnetosphere interactions) – Space plasma physics (numerical simulation studies)

Innovative visualization and analysis capabilities to advance scientific discovery

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Law ◽  
Brian Day ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Scientific Discovery ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
Analysis Tools ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Data Products ◽  
Advanced Analysis

<p>NASA’s Solar System Treks program produces a suite of interactive visualization and AI/data science analysis tools. These tools enable mission planners, planetary scientists, and engineers to access geospatial data products derived from big data returned from a wide range of instruments aboard a variety of past and current missions, for a growing number of planetary bodies.</p><p>The portals provide easy-to-use tools for browse, search and the ability to overlay a growing range and large amount of value added data products. Data products can be viewed in 2D and 3D, in VR and can be easily integrated by stacking and blending together rendering optimal visualization. Data sets can be plotted and compared against each other. Standard gaming and 3D mouse controllers allow users to maneuver first-person visualizations of flying across planetary surfaces.</p><p>The portals provide a set of advanced analysis tools that employed AI and data science methods. The tools facilitate measurement and study of terrain including distance, height, and depth of surface features. They allow users to perform analyses such as lighting and local hazard assessments including slope, surface roughness and crater/boulder distribution, rockfall distribution, and surface electrostatic potential. These tools faciliate a wide range of activities including the planning, design, development, test and operations associated with lunar sortie missions; robotic (and potentially crewed) operations on the surface; planning tasks in the areas of landing site evaluation and selection; design and placement of landers and other stationary assets; design of rovers and other mobile assets; developing terrain-relative navigation (TRN) capabilities; deorbit/impact site visualization; and assessment and planning of science traverses. Additional tools useful scientific research are under development such as line of sight calculation.</p><p>Seven portals are publicly available to explore the Moon, Mars, Vesta, Ceres, Titan, IcyMoons, and Mercury with more portals in development and planning stages.</p><p>This presentation will provide an overview of the Solar System Treks and highlight its innovative visualization and analysis capabilities that advance scientific discovery.  The information system and science communities are invited to provide suggestions and requests as the development team continues to expand the portals’ tool suite to maximize scientific research.</p><p>Lastly, the authors would like to thank the Planetary Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, NASA’s SMD Science Engagement and Partnerships, the Advanced Explorations Systems Program of NASA’s Human Exploration Operations Directorate, and the Moons to Mars Mission Directorate for their support and guidance in the development of the Solar System Treks.</p>

scholarly journals Organic chemistry in space and the search for life in our Solar System 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascale Ehrenfreund
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Extraterrestrial Life ◽  
Solar Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Hayabusa 2 ◽  
Human Exploration

<p>One of the most fascinating questions in planetary science is how life originated on Earth and whether life exists beyond Earth. Life on Earth originated approximately 3.5 billion years ago and has adapted to nearly every explored environment including the deep ocean, dry deserts and ice continents. What were the chemical raw materials available for life to develop? Many carbonaceous compounds are identified by astronomical observations in our Solar System and beyond. Small Solar System bodies hold clues to both processes that formed our Solar System and the processes that probably contributed carbonaceous molecules and volatiles during the heavy bombardment phase to the young planets in our Solar System. The latter process may have contributed to life’s origin on Earth. Space missions that investigate the composition of comets and asteroids and in particular their organic content provide major opportunities to determine the prebiotic reservoirs that were available to early Earth and Mars. Recently, the Comet rendezvous mission Rosetta has monitored the evolution of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during its approach to the Sun. Rosetta observed numerous volatiles and complex organic compounds on the cometary surface and in the coma. JAXA’s Hayabusa-2 mission has returned samples from near-Earth asteroid Ryugu in December 2020 and we may have some interesting scientific results soon. Hayabusa-2 also carried the German-French landing module MASCOT (mobile asteroid surface scout) that provided new insights into the structure and composition of the asteroid Ryugu during its 17-hour scientific exploration.</p><p>Presently, a fleet of robotic space missions target planets and moons in order to assess their habitability and to seek biosignatures of simple extraterrestrial life beyond Earth. Prime future targets in the outer Solar System include moons that may harbor internal oceans such as Europa, Enceladus, and Titan. Life may have emerged during habitable periods on Mars and evidence of life may still be preserved in the subsurface, evaporite deposits, caves, or polar regions. On Mars, a combination of solar ultraviolet radiation and oxidation processes are destructive to organic material and life on and close to the surface. However, the progress and the revolutionary quality and quantity of data on “extreme life” on Earth has transformed our view of habitability. In 2021, we will hopefully have three robotic missions arriving at Mars from China, the United Arab Emirates and NASA (Tianwen-1, Hope, and Mars2020 respectively). In 2022, ESA’s ExoMars program will launch the Rosalind Franklin Rover and landing platform, and drill two meters deep into the Martian subsurface for the first time. Mars is still the central object of interest for habitability studies and life detection beyond Earth, paving the way for returned samples and human exploration.</p><p>Measurements from laboratory, field, and space simulations are vital in the preparation phase for future planetary exploration missions. This Cassini lecture will review the evolution and distribution of organic matter in space, including results from space missions, field and laboratory research, and discuss the science and technology preparation necessary for robotic and human exploration efforts investigating habitability and biosignatures in our Solar System.</p>

scholarly journals Organic chemistry in space and the search for life in our Solar System

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascale Ehrenfreund
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Solar Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Life Detection ◽  
Hayabusa 2 ◽  
Human Exploration

<p>One of the most fascinating questions in planetary science is how life originated on Earth and whether life exists beyond Earth. Carbonaceous compounds in the gas and solid state, refractory and icy are identified by astronomical observations in our Solar System, and distant galaxies. Among them are a large number of molecules that are essential in prebiotic chemistry and used in contemporary biochemistry on Earth. Life on Earth originated approximately 3.5 billion years ago and has adapted to nearly every explored environment. What was chemical raw materials available for life to develop? Small Solar System bodies hold clues to processes that formed our Solar System and probably contributed carbonaceous molecules and volatiles during the heavy bombardment phase to the young planets. This process may have contributed to life’s origin on Earth. Space missions that investigate the composition of comets and asteroids and in particular their organic content provide major opportunities to determine the prebiotic reservoirs available to the early Earth and Mars. Recently, the Comet rendezvous mission Rosetta has monitored the evolution of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during its approach to the Sun and observed numerous volatiles and complex organic compound on the cometary surface and in the coma. Several asteroid sample return missions are currently operational such as JAXA’s Hayabusa-2 which was launched in 2014 and will return samples to Earth in 2020. Hayabusa-2 also carried the German-French landing module MASCOT (mobile asteroid surface scout) that provided during the 17 hours of intensive scientific exploration new insights into the structure and composition of the asteroid Ryugu.</p><p>A fleet of robotic space missions currently targets planets and moons in order to assess their habitability and to seek biosignatures of simple extraterrestrial life beyond Earth. Prime targets in the outer Solar System include moons that may harbor internal oceans such as Europa, Enceladus, and Titan. Life may have emerged during habitable periods on Mars and remains may still be preserved in the subsurface, evaporite deposits, caves or polar regions. On Mars, a combination of solar ultraviolet radiation and oxidation processes are destructive to organic material and life on and close to the surface. However, the progress and the revolutionary quality and quantity of data on “extreme life” on Earth have transformed our view of habitability. In 2020, ESA’s ExoMars program will launch the Rosalind Franklin Rover and landing platform, and drill for the first time 2m deep into the Martian subsurface. Mars is still the central object of interest for habitability studies and life detection beyond Earth, paving the way for returned samples and human exploration.</p><p>Knowledge on the evolution of organic material in space environment such as their photochemistry and preservation potential are crucial to advance life detection strategies and instrument development. This Cassini lecture will review the evolution of organic matter in space including recent observations, space missions and laboratory research and discuss the science and technology preparation necessary for robotic and human exploration efforts investigating habitability and biosignatures in our Solar System.</p>

Afterword to the 2017 edition

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Chambers ◽  
Jacqueline Mitton
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Planetary Systems ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
The Way

Science is a voyage of discovery, a lasting quest to find the truth, with many twists and turns along the way. Planetary science—the study of how planetary systems form and evolve—is no exception. In fact, a great deal has happened in the few short years since we first wrote this book. Many new discoveries have been made by space missions, by astronomers using telescopes, and by researchers in laboratories using computers. These discoveries have naturally influenced the way we think about our solar system and how it formed. Some discoveries have confirmed previous predictions while others have forced researchers to modify their theories. Occasionally, a discovery has thrown open a new window, greatly increasing the range of possible scenarios. This afterword is a brief tour of some recent discoveries and what they might mean....

The solar wind interaction with Venus through the eyes of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 1482-1495 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.T. Russell ◽  
J.G. Luhmann ◽  
R.J. Strangeway
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Solar Wind Interaction

scholarly journals PIC methods in astrophysics: simulations of relativistic jets and kinetic physics in astrophysical systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenichi Nishikawa ◽  
Ioana Duţan ◽  
Christoph Köhn ◽  
Yosuke Mizuno
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Physics ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Laser Plasma ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Relativistic Jets ◽  
Astrophysical Plasmas ◽  
Computing Power ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
The Future ◽  
Pic Method

AbstractThe Particle-In-Cell (PIC) method has been developed by Oscar Buneman, Charles Birdsall, Roger W. Hockney, and John Dawson in the 1950s and, with the advances of computing power, has been further developed for several fields such as astrophysical, magnetospheric as well as solar plasmas and recently also for atmospheric and laser-plasma physics. Currently more than 15 semi-public PIC codes are available which we discuss in this review. Its applications have grown extensively with increasing computing power available on high performance computing facilities around the world. These systems allow the study of various topics of astrophysical plasmas, such as magnetic reconnection, pulsars and black hole magnetosphere, non-relativistic and relativistic shocks, relativistic jets, and laser-plasma physics. We review a plethora of astrophysical phenomena such as relativistic jets, instabilities, magnetic reconnection, pulsars, as well as PIC simulations of laser-plasma physics (until 2021) emphasizing the physics involved in the simulations. Finally, we give an outlook of the future simulations of jets associated to neutron stars, black holes and their merging and discuss the future of PIC simulations in the light of petascale and exascale computing.

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