Search Publications
Imaging Plasma Density Structures in the Soft X-Rays Generated by Solar Wind Charge Exchange with Neutrals
Holmström, M.; Read, A. M.; Wing, S. +32 more
Both heliophysics and planetary physics seek to understand the complex nature of the solar wind's interaction with solar system obstacles like Earth's magnetosphere, the ionospheres of Venus and Mars, and comets. Studies with this objective are frequently conducted with the help of single or multipoint in situ electromagnetic field and particle ob…
Global Non-Potential Magnetic Models of the Solar Corona During the March 2015 Eclipse
Morgan, Huw; Feng, Xueshang; Downs, Cooper +17 more
Seven different models are applied to the same problem of simulating the Sun's coronal magnetic field during the solar eclipse on 2015 March 20. All of the models are non-potential, allowing for free magnetic energy, but the associated electric currents are developed in significantly different ways. This is not a direct comparison of the coronal m…
Abundances, Ionization States, Temperatures, and FIP in Solar Energetic Particles
Reames, Donald V.
The relative abundances of chemical elements and isotopes have been our most effective tool in identifying and understanding the physical processes that control populations of energetic particles. The early surprise in solar energetic particles (SEPs) was 1000-fold enhancements in {}3He/{}4He from resonant wave-particle inter…
The Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment on the InSight Mission to Mars
Golombek, Matthew P.; Asmar, Sami W.; Yseboodt, Marie +5 more
The Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment (RISE) on-board the InSight mission will use the lander's X-band (8 GHz) radio system in combination with tracking stations of the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) to determine the rotation of Mars. RISE will measure the nutation of the Martian spin axis, detecting for the first time the effect of the li…
Venus Interior Structure and Dynamics
Sotin, Christophe; Smrekar, Suzanne E.; Davaille, Anne
No two rocky bodies offer a better laboratory for exploring the conditions controlling interior dynamics than Venus and Earth. Their similarities in size, density, distance from the sun, and young surfaces would suggest comparable interior dynamics. Although the two planets exhibit some of the same processes, Venus lacks Earth's dominant process f…
Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability: Lessons Learned and Ways Forward
Nykyri, K.; Masson, A.
The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) is a ubiquitous phenomenon across the Universe, observed from 500 m deep in the oceans on Earth to the Orion molecular cloud. Over the past two decades, several space missions have enabled a leap forward in our understanding of this phenomenon at the Earth's magnetopause. Key results obtained by these mission…
Organic Ices in Titan's Stratosphere
Anderson, C. M.; Samuelson, R. E.; Nna-Mvondo, D.
Titan's stratospheric ice clouds are by far the most complex of any observed in the solar system, with over a dozen organic vapors condensing out to form a suite of pure and co-condensed ices, typically observed at high winter polar latitudes. Once these stratospheric ices are formed, they will diffuse throughout Titan's lower atmosphere and most …
Fine Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector (FREND) Onboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
Mitrofanov, I.; Zelenyi, L. M.; Malakhov, A. +23 more
ExoMars is a two-launch mission undertaken by Roscosmos and European Space Agency. Trace Gas Orbiter, a satellite part of the 2016 launch carries the Fine Resolution Neutron Detector instrument as part of its payload. The instrument aims at mapping hydrogen content in the upper meter of Martian soil with spatial resolution between 60 and 200 km di…
Image Simulation and Assessment of the Colour and Spatial Capabilities of the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
Seelos, Frank P.; El-Maarry, M. R.; Tornabene, Livio L. +21 more
This study aims to assess the spatial and visible/near-infrared (VNIR) colour/spectral capabilities of the 4-band Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) aboard the ExoMars 2016 Trace Grace Orbiter (TGO). The instrument response functions for the CaSSIS imager was used to resample spectral libraries, modelled spectra and to construct spe…
Origin of Molecular Oxygen in Comets: Current Knowledge and Perspectives
Mousis, Olivier; Bouquet, Alexis; Lunine, Jonathan I. +10 more
The Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis (ROSINA) instrument onboard the Rosetta spacecraft has measured molecular oxygen (O2) in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/C-G) in surprisingly high abundances. These measurements mark the first unequivocal detection of O2 in a cometary environment. …