We investigate the plasma environment of comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko, the target of the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission. Rosetta will rendezvous with the comet in 2014 at almost 3.5 AU ...and follow it all the way to and past perihelion at 1.3 AU. During its journey towards the inner solar system the comet's environment will significantly change. The interaction of the solar wind with a well developed neutral coma leads to the formation of an upstream bow shock and, closer to the comet, the inner shock separating the solar wind, with cometary pick‐up ions mass‐loaded, from the inner cometary ions which are dragged outward through abundant collisions and charge exchange with the expanding neutral gas. As a consequence the interplanetary magnetic field is prevented from penetrating the innermost region of the comet, the so‐called magnetic cavity. We use our magnetohydrodynamics model BATSRUS (Block‐Adaptive‐Tree‐Solarwind‐Roe‐Upwind‐Scheme) to simulate the solar wind – comet interaction. The model includes photoionization, ion‐electron recombination, and charge exchange. Under certain conditions our model predicts an unstable plasma flow at the inner shock. We show that the plasma shear flow around the magnetic cavity can lead to Kelvin‐Helmholtz instabilities. We investigate the onset of this phenomenon with change of heliocentric distance and furthermore show that a previously stable magnetic cavity boundary can become unstable when the neutral gas is predominately released from the dayside of the comet.
Key Points
MHD model of a comet's plasma‐solar wind interaction
Peculiar plasma flows at the magnetic cavity boundary associated to jets
Kelvin‐Helmholtz instabilities predicted to occur under certain conditions
Powerful winds from low-mass stars: V374 Peg Vidotto, A. A.; Jardine, M.; Opher, M. ...
Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,
03/2011, Letnik:
412, Številka:
1
Journal Article
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The M dwarf V374 Peg (M4) is believed to lie near the theoretical mass threshold for fully convective interiors. Its rapid rotation (P= 0.44 d) along with its intense magnetic field point towards ...magnetocentrifugal acceleration of a coronal wind. In this work, we investigate the structure of the coronal wind of V374 Peg by means of three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) numerical simulations. For the first time, an observationally derived surface magnetic field map is implemented in MHD models of stellar winds for a low-mass star. By self-consistently taking into consideration the interaction of the outflowing wind with the magnetic field and vice versa, we show that the wind of V374 Peg deviates greatly from a low-velocity, low-mass-loss rate solar-type wind. We have found general scaling relations for the terminal velocities, mass-loss rates and spin-down times of highly magnetized M dwarfs. In particular, for V374 Peg, our models show that terminal velocities across a range of stellar latitudes reach u
∞≃ (1500-2300) n
−1/2
12 km s−1, where n
12 is the coronal wind base density in units of 1012 cm−3, while the mass-loss rates are about
. We also evaluate the angular momentum loss of V374 Peg, which presents a rotational braking time-scale τ≃ 28 n
−1/2
12 Myr. Compared to observationally derived values from period distributions of stars in open clusters, this suggests that V374 Peg may have low coronal base densities (≲1011 cm−3). We show that the wind ram pressure of V374 Peg is about 5 orders of magnitude larger than for the solar wind. Nevertheless, a small planetary magnetic field intensity (∼0.1 G) is able to shield a planet orbiting at 1 au against the erosive effects of the stellar wind. However, planets orbiting inside the habitable zone of V374 Peg, where the wind ram pressure is higher, might be facing a more significant atmospheric erosion. In that case, higher planetary magnetic fields of, at least, about half the magnetic field intensity of Jupiter are required to protect the planet's atmosphere.
ABSTRACT We study the interaction between the atmospheres of Venus-like, non-magnetized exoplanets orbiting an M-dwarf star, and the stellar wind using a multi-species MHD model. We focus our ...investigation on the effect of enhanced stellar wind and enhanced EUV flux as the planetary distance from the star decreases. Our simulations reveal different topologies of the planetary space environment for sub- and super-Alfvénic stellar wind conditions, which could lead to dynamic energy deposition into the atmosphere during the transition along the planetary orbit. We find that the stellar wind penetration for non-magnetized planets is very deep, up to a few hundreds of kilometers. We estimate a lower limit for the atmospheric mass-loss rate and find that it is insignificant over the lifetime of the planet. However, we predict that when accounting for atmospheric ion acceleration, a significant amount of the planetary atmosphere could be eroded over the course of a billion years.
We present a numerical investigation of the coronal evolution of a coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2005 August 22 using a three-dimensional thermodynamic magnetohydrodynamic model, the space weather ...modeling framework. The source region of the eruption was anemone active region (AR) 10798, which emerged inside a coronal hole. We validate our modeled corona by producing synthetic extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) images, which we compare to EIT images. We initiate the CME with an out-of-equilibrium flux rope with an orientation and chirality chosen in agreement with observations of an H Delta *a filament. During the eruption, one footpoint of the flux rope reconnects with streamer magnetic field lines and with open field lines from the adjacent coronal hole. It yields an eruption which has a mix of closed and open twisted field lines due to interchange reconnection and only one footpoint line-tied to the source region. Even with the large-scale reconnection, we find no evidence of strong rotation of the CME as it propagates. We study the CME deflection and find that the effect of the Lorentz force is a deflection of the CME by about 3? R --1 toward the east during the first 30 minutes of the propagation. We also produce coronagraphic and EUV images of the CME, which we compare with real images, identifying a dimming region associated with the reconnection process. We discuss the implication of our results for the arrival at Earth of CMEs originating from the limb and for models to explain the presence of open field lines in magnetic clouds.
Based on our previous work, we investigate here the effects on the wind and magnetospheric structures of weak-lined T Tauri stars due to a misalignment between the axis of rotation of the star and ...its magnetic dipole moment vector. In such a configuration, the system loses the axisymmetry presented in the aligned case, requiring a fully three-dimensional (3D) approach. We perform 3D numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of stellar winds and study the effects caused by different model parameters, namely the misalignment angle {theta}{sub t}, the stellar period of rotation, the plasma-{beta}, and the heating index {gamma}. Our simulations take into account the interplay between the wind and the stellar magnetic field during the time evolution. The system reaches a periodic behavior with the same rotational period of the star. We show that the magnetic field lines present an oscillatory pattern. Furthermore, we obtain that by increasing {theta}{sub t}, the wind velocity increases, especially in the case of strong magnetic field and relatively rapid stellar rotation. Our 3D, time-dependent wind models allow us to study the interaction of a magnetized wind with a magnetized extrasolar planet. Such interaction gives rise to reconnection, generating electrons that propagate along the planet's magnetic field lines and produce electron cyclotron radiation at radio wavelengths. The power released in the interaction depends on the planet's magnetic field intensity, its orbital radius, and on the stellar wind local characteristics. We find that a close-in Jupiter-like planet orbiting at 0.05 AU presents a radio power that is {approx}5 orders of magnitude larger than the one observed in Jupiter, which suggests that the stellar wind from a young star has the potential to generate strong planetary radio emission that could be detected in the near future with LOFAR. This radio power varies according to the phase of rotation of the star. For three selected simulations, we find a variation of the radio power of a factor 1.3-3.7, depending on {theta} {sub t}. Moreover, we extend the investigation done in Vidotto et al. and analyze whether winds from misaligned stellar magnetospheres could cause a significant effect on planetary migration. Compared to the aligned case, we show that the timescale {tau}{sub w} for an appreciable radial motion of the planet is shorter for larger misalignment angles. While for the aligned case {tau}{sub w} {approx_equal} 100 Myr, for a stellar magnetosphere tilted by {theta}{sub t} = 30{sup 0}, {tau} {sub w} ranges from {approx}40 to 70 Myr for a planet located at a radius of 0.05 AU. Further reduction on {tau}{sub w} might occur for even larger misalignment angles and/or different wind parameters.
The Jovian moon, Europa, hosts a thin neutral gas atmosphere, which is tightly coupled to Jupiter's magnetosphere. Magnetospheric ions impacting the surface sputter off neutral atoms, which, upon ...ionization, carry currents that modify the magnetic field around the moon. The magnetic field in the plasma is also affected by Europa's induced magnetic field. In this paper we investigate the environment of Europa using our multifluid MHD model and focus on the effects introduced by both the magnetospheric and the pickup ion populations. The model self‐consistently derives the electron temperature that governs the electron impact ionization process, which is the major source of ionization in this environment. The resulting magnetic field is compared to measurements performed by the Galileo magnetometer, the bulk properties of the modeled thermal plasma population is compared to the Galileo Plasma Subsystem observations, and the modeled surface precipitation fluxes are compared to Galileo Ultraviolet Spectrometer observations. The model shows good agreement with the measured magnetic field and reproduces the basic features of the plasma interaction observed at the moon for both the E4 and the E26 flybys of the Galileo spacecraft. The simulation also produces perturbations asymmetric about the flow direction that account for observed asymmetries.
Key Points
First multifluid MHD simulation of Europa's plasma interaction presented
Matches plasma and magnetic field observations during Galileo E4 and E26 flybys
Plasma flow and temperatures different for magnetospheric and pick up ions
We present a three-dimensional compressible magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) simulation of the three coronal mass ejections (CMEs) of 2000 November 24, originating from NOAA active region 9236. These ...three ejections, with velocities around 1200 km s super(-1) and associated with X-class flares, erupted from the Sun in a period of about 16.5 hr. In our simulation, the coronal magnetic field is reconstructed from MDI magnetogram data, the steady-state solar wind is based on a varying polytropic index model, and the ejections are initiated using out-of-equilibrium semicylindrical flux ropes with a size smaller than the active region. The simulations are carried out with the Space Weather Modeling Framework. We are able to reproduce the shape and velocity of the CMEs as observed by the LASCO C3 coronograph. The complex ejecta resulting from the interaction of the three CMEs is preceded at Earth by a single shock wave, which, in our simulation, arrives at Earth 10 hr later than the shock observed by the Wind spacecraft. This article discusses the three-dimensional aspects of the propagation, interaction, and merging of the forward shock waves associated with the three ejections. Synthetic images from the Heliospheric Imagers onboard the STEREO spacecraft are produced, and we predict that the large density jump associated with the interaction of the shocks should be observed by those coronographs in the near future.
Observations of the green and red‐doublet emission lines have previously been realized for several comets. We present here a chemistry‐emission coupled model to study the production and loss ...mechanisms of the O(1S) and O(1D) states, which are responsible for the emission lines of interest for comet 67P/Churyumov‐Gerasimenko. The recent discovery of O2 in significant abundance relative to water 3.80 ± 0.85% within the coma of 67P has been taken into consideration for the first time in such models. We evaluate the effect of the presence of O2 on the green to red‐doublet emission intensity ratio, which is traditionally used to assess the CO2 abundance within cometary atmospheres. Model simulations, solving the continuity equation with transport, show that not taking O2 into account leads to an underestimation of the CO2 abundance within 67P, with a relative error of about 25%. This strongly suggests that the green to red‐doublet emission intensity ratio alone is not a proper tool for determining the CO2 abundance, as previously suggested. Indeed, there is no compelling reason why O2 would not be a common cometary volatile, making revision of earlier assessments regarding the CO2 abundance in cometary atmospheres necessary. The large uncertainties of the CO2 photodissociation cross section imply that more studies are required in order to better constrain the O(1S) and O(1D) production through this mechanism. Space weather phenomena, such as powerful solar flares, could be used as tools for doing so, providing additional information on a good estimation of the O2 abundance within cometary atmospheres.
Key Points
The presence of O2 within 67P's atmosphere increases significantly the red line emission
Estimations of CO2 abundances based on the G/R ratio should be revised due to the O2 presence
Space weather phenomena such as solar flares have an impact on the comet photochemistry
ROSINA ion zoo at Comet 67P Beth, A.; Altwegg, K.; Balsiger, H. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
10/2020, Letnik:
642
Journal Article
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Context.
The Rosetta spacecraft escorted Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for 2 yr along its journey through the Solar System between 3.8 and 1.24 au. Thanks to the high resolution mass spectrometer ...on board Rosetta, the detailed ion composition within a coma has been accurately assessed in situ for the very first time.
Aims.
Previous cometary missions, such as
Giotto
, did not have the instrumental capabilities to identify the exact nature of the plasma in a coma because the mass resolution of the spectrometers onboard was too low to separate ion species with similar masses. In contrast, the Double Focusing Mass Spectrometer (DFMS), part of the Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis on board Rosetta (ROSINA), with its high mass resolution mode, outperformed all of them, revealing the diversity of cometary ions.
Methods.
We calibrated and analysed the set of spectra acquired by DFMS in ion mode from October 2014 to April 2016. In particular, we focused on the range from 13–39 u q
−1
. The high mass resolution of DFMS allows for accurate identifications of ions with quasi-similar masses, separating
13
C
+
from CH
+
, for instance.
Results.
We confirm the presence in situ of predicted cations at comets, such as CH
m
+
(
m
= 1−4), H
n
O
+
(
n
= 1−3), O
+
, Na
+
, and several ionised and protonated molecules. Prior to Rosetta, only a fraction of them had been confirmed from Earth-based observations. In addition, we report for the first time the unambiguous presence of a molecular dication in the gas envelope of a Solar System body, namely CO
2
++
.
We describe, analyze, and validate the recently developed Alfven Wave Solar Model, a three-dimensional global model starting from the top of the chromosphere and extending into interplanetary space ...(out to 1-2 AU). This model solves the extended, two-temperature magnetohydrodynamics equations coupled to a wave kinetic equation for low-frequency Alfven waves. In this picture, heating and acceleration of the plasma are due to wave dissipation and to wave pressure gradients, respectively. The dissipation process is described by a fully developed turbulent cascade of counterpropagating waves. We adopt a unified approach for calculating the wave dissipation in both open and closed magnetic field lines, allowing for a self-consistent treatment in any magnetic topology. Wave dissipation is the only heating mechanism assumed in the model; no geometric heating functions are invoked. Electron heat conduction and radiative cooling are also included. We demonstrate that the large-scale, steady state (in the corotating frame) properties of the solar environment are reproduced, using three adjustable parameters: the Poynting flux of chromospheric Alfven waves, the perpendicular correlation length of the turbulence, and a pseudoreflection coefficient. We compare model results for Carrington rotation 2063 (2007 November-December) with remote observations in the extreme-ultraviolet and X-ray ranges from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and Hinode spacecraft and with in situ measurements by Ulysses. The results are in good agreement with observations. This is the first global simulation that is simultaneously consistent with observations of both the thermal structure of the lower corona and the wind structure beyond Earth's orbit.
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