Flux rope passage at the Moon while in the terrestrial magnetotail |
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Authors: | Erika M Harnett Robert M Winglee |
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Institution: | Department of Earth Space Science, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 1310, USA |
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Abstract: | The Moon spends 20% of its orbit within the terrestrial magnetosphere. During this time it experiences a dynamic plasma environment, including high-speed streams, flux ropes and a flux of heavy ions from ionospheric outflows. 3D multi-fluid simulations of the Moon within the magnetosphere during a substorm shows that a highly variable plasma flow can develop in the vicinity of the Moon due to the passage of a flux rope. The transit of a flux rope past the Moon potentially leads to a plasma wake that is mis-aligned from the optical wake by nearly 30°. This will have implications when determining the range of space weathering and surface charging the lunar surface experiences. |
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Keywords: | Moon Numerical simulations Plasma environment Magnetosphere |
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