Effects of the IMF direction on atmospheric escape from a Mars‐like planet under weak intrinsic magnetic field conditions

Author(s):  
Shotaro Sakai ◽  
Kanako Seki ◽  
Naoki Terada ◽  
Hiroyuki Shinagawa ◽  
Ryoya Sakata ◽  
...  
2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (18) ◽  
pp. 9336-9343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shotaro Sakai ◽  
Kanako Seki ◽  
Naoki Terada ◽  
Hiroyuki Shinagawa ◽  
Takashi Tanaka ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 614 ◽  
pp. L3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert Gunell ◽  
Romain Maggiolo ◽  
Hans Nilsson ◽  
Gabriella Stenberg Wieser ◽  
Rikard Slapak ◽  
...  

The presence or absence of a magnetic field determines the nature of how a planet interacts with the solar wind and what paths are available for atmospheric escape. Magnetospheres form both around magnetised planets, such as Earth, and unmagnetised planets, like Mars and Venus, but it has been suggested that magnetised planets are better protected against atmospheric loss. However, the observed mass escape rates from these three planets are similar (in the approximate (0.5–2) kg s−1 range), putting this latter hypothesis into question. Modelling the effects of a planetary magnetic field on the major atmospheric escape processes, we show that the escape rate can be higher for magnetised planets over a wide range of magnetisations due to escape of ions through the polar caps and cusps. Therefore, contrary to what has previously been believed, magnetisation is not a sufficient condition for protecting a planet from atmospheric loss. Estimates of the atmospheric escape rates from exoplanets must therefore address all escape processes and their dependence on the planet’s magnetisation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Palmroth ◽  
R. C. Fear ◽  
I. Honkonen

Abstract. We examine the spatial variation of magnetospheric energy transfer using a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation (GUMICS-4) and a large data set of flux transfer events (FTEs) observed by the Cluster spacecraft. Our main purpose is to investigate whether it is possible to validate previous results on the spatial energy transfer variation from the GUMICS-4 simulation using the statistical occurrence of FTEs, which are manifestations of magnetospheric energy transfer. Previous simulation results have suggested that the energy transfer pattern at the magnetopause rotates according to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation, and here we investigate whether a similar rotation is seen in the locations at which FTE signatures are observed. We find that there is qualitative agreement between the simulation and observed statistics, as the peaks in both distributions rotate as a function of the IMF clock angle. However, it is necessary to take into account the modulation of the statistical distribution that is caused by a bias towards in situ FTE signatures being observed in the winter hemisphere (an effect that has previously been predicted and observed in this data set). Taking this seasonal effect into account, the FTE locations support the previous simulation results and confirm the earlier prediction that the energy transfers in the plane of the IMF. In addition, we investigate the effect of the dipole orientation (both the dipole tilt angle and its orientation in the plane perpendicular to the solar wind flow) on the energy transfer spatial distribution. We find that the energy transfer occurs mainly in the summer hemisphere, and that the dayside reconnection region is located asymmetrically about the subsolar position. Finally, we find that the energy transfer is 10% larger at equinox conditions than at solstice, contributing to the discussion concerning the semiannual variation of magnetospheric dynamics (known as "the Russell-McPherron effect").


Author(s):  
Jianfeng Huang ◽  
Y. Ilyin ◽  
W.A.J. Wessel ◽  
Ruben Lubkemann ◽  
Erik Krooshoop ◽  
...  

Abstract The inter-strand contact resistance and AC losses were measured on an ITER PF Coil joint in a parallel applied AC magnetic field. In addition, the hysteresis loss was measured as a function of the angle with the applied magnetic field on a NbTi strand of the same type as in the joint with a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The AC loss measurements were performed at four applied field conditions for combinations of 0 or 1 T offset field and 0.2 or 0.4 T sinusoidal amplitude. The hysteresis loss of the joint was compared with the measured AC loss density of the NbTi strand for the same field conditions as the joint AC loss measurement but with varying the angle of the applied field. The subsequent cable twist angles affect the hysteresis loss since the critical current and penetration field depend on the angle of the applied field. It is found that 15.5° is an effective angle for the calculation of the hysteresis loss of joint when compared to the single strand measurement. The inter-strand contact resistance measurements cover all the typical strand combinations from the five cabling stages of the individual conductors, as well as the strand combinations across the two conductors to characterize the inter-strand including the copper sole resistivity. It’s the first time to measure the contact resistances and AC losses of the full-size ITER PF joint. By comparing the measured and simulated data in the JackPot-ACDC model, it’s also the first time to obtain the accurate inter-strand, inter-petal and strand to copper sole contact resistivities, which are the main input parameters for the further quantitative numerical analysis of the PF joints, in any current and magnetic field conditions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249-1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Huang ◽  
Hermann Lühr ◽  
Hui Wang

Abstract. On the basis of field-aligned currents (FACs) and Hall currents derived from high-resolution magnetic field data of the Swarm constellation, the average characteristics of these two current systems in the auroral regions are comprehensively investigated by statistical methods. This is the first study considering both current types determined simultaneously by the same spacecraft in both hemispheres. The FAC distribution, derived from the novel Swarm dual-spacecraft approach, reveals the well-known features of Region 1 (R1) and Region 2 (R2) FACs. At high latitudes, Region 0 (R0) FACs appear on the dayside. Their flow direction, up or down, depends on the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By component. Of particular interest is the distribution of auroral Hall currents. The prominent auroral electrojets are found to be closely controlled by the solar wind input, but we find no dependence of their intensity on the IMF By orientation. The eastward electrojet is about 1.5 times stronger in local summer than in winter. Conversely, the westward electrojet shows less dependence on season. As to higher latitudes, part of the electrojet current is closed over the polar cap. Here the seasonal variation of conductivity mainly controls the current density. During local summer of the Northern Hemisphere, there is a clear channeling of return currents over the polar cap. For positive (negative) IMF By a dominant eastward (westward) Hall current circuit is formed from the afternoon (morning) electrojet towards the dawn side (dusk side) polar cap return current. The direction of polar cap Hall currents in the noon sector depends directly on the orientation of the IMF By. This is true for both signs of the IMF Bz component. Comparable Hall current distributions can be observed in the Southern Hemisphere but for opposite IMF By signs. Around the midnight sector the westward substorm electrojet is dominating. As expected, it is highly dependent on magnetic activity, but it shows only little response to season and IMF By polarity. An important finding is that all the IMF By dependences of FACs and Hall currents practically disappear in the dark winter hemisphere.


1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Tulunay

Using critical frequencies, f0F2 from the Lannion, Slough, Poitiers, Garchy, Dourbes, Rome, Juliusrud, Gibilmanna, Pruhonice, Uppsala, Kaliningrad, Miedzeszyn, Sofia, Athens and Kiev ionosonde stations, the possible effects of the orientation of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) on mid-latitude ionosphere are further investigated. This time, only the southward polarity changes in IMF Bz with seasonal effects were considered. The same method of analysis was employed to facilitate a comparison between the recent results presented here with those which appeared in the preceding papers in the series. That is, the regular diurnal, seasonal and solar cycle variations in the f0F2 data were removed by subtracting the mean of the f0F2 for the same UT on all magnetically quite days (Ap < 6) within 15 days around the IMF Bz turnings (Tulunay, 1994). This last paper also includes the seasonal effects on the ionospheric data. The results confirm that much of the day-to-day variability of the mid-latitude ionosphere may be related to the orientation of the southward IMF Bz , characterized by the ionospheric winter anomaly. Day-to-day ionospheric variability becomes more significant towards higher latitudes.


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