Search Publications
Solar Wind and Internally Driven Dynamics: Influences on Magnetodiscs and Auroral Responses
Paranicas, C.; Jia, X.; Delamere, P. A. +7 more
The dynamics of the giant planet magnetodiscs are strongly influenced by planetary rotation. Yet the solar wind must ultimately remove plasma from these rapidly rotating magnetodiscs at the same rate that plasma is transported radially outward from the source regions: the Io and Enceladus plasma tori. It is not clear how the solar wind influences …
What Controls the Structure and Dynamics of Earth's Magnetosphere?
Eastwood, J. P.; Fujimoto, M.; Toth, G. +2 more
Unlike most cosmic plasma structures, planetary magnetospheres can be extensively studied in situ. In particular, studies of the Earth's magnetosphere over the past few decades have resulted in a relatively good experimental understanding of both its basic structural properties and its response to changes in the impinging solar wind. In this artic…
A Revised Sensitivity Model for Cassini INMS: Results at Titan
Young, D. T.; Waite, J. H.; Yelle, R. V. +15 more
Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) measurements from roughly a hundred Titan encounters over the Cassini mission yield neutral and ion densities systematically lower, by factors approximately 2 to 3, than estimates from several other spacecraft systems, including the Attitude and Articulation Control System, and Navigation system. In thi…
The Role of the Ionosphere in Providing Plasma to the Terrestrial Magnetosphere—An Historical Overview
Chappell, Charles R.
Through the more than half century of space exploration, the perception and recognition of the fundamental role of the ionospheric plasma in populating the Earth's magnetosphere has evolved dramatically. A brief history of this evolution in thinking is presented. Both theory and measurements have unveiled a surprising new understanding of this imp…
Constraints from Comets on the Formation and Volatile Acquisition of the Planets and Satellites
Hartogh, P.; Mousis, O.; Marty, B. +4 more
Comets play a dual role in understanding the formation and evolution of the solar system. First, the composition of comets provides information about the origin of the giant planets and their moons because comets formed early and their composition is not expected to have evolved significantly since formation. They, therefore serve as a record of c…
Understanding the Internal Chemical Composition and Physical Processes of the Solar Interior
Basu, Sarbani; Turck-Chièze, Sylvaine; Grevesse, Nicolas +1 more
The Sun, the closest and most well studied of stars, is generally used as a standard that other stars are compared to. Models of the Sun are constantly tested with helioseismic data. These data allow us to probe the internal structure and dynamics of the Sun. Among the main sources of the data is the SOHO spacecraft that has been continuously obse…
A Review of General Physical and Chemical Processes Related to Plasma Sources and Losses for Solar System Magnetospheres
Delcourt, D. C.; Wurz, P.; Jackman, C. M. +13 more
The aim of this paper is to provide a review of general processes related to plasma sources, their transport, energization, and losses in the planetary magnetospheres. We provide background information as well as the most up-to-date knowledge of the comparative studies of planetary magnetospheres, with a focus on the plasma supply to each region o…
Properties of Magnetic Field Fluctuations in the Earth's Magnetotail and Implications for the General Problem of Structure Formation in Hot Plasmas
Zelenyi, Lev; Artemyev, Anton; Petrukovich, Anatoli
In this review we discuss the formation of plasma structures in hot plasmas with large β. We use spacecraft observations of magnetic field fluctuations in the Earth magnetotail to reveal the main multiscale plasma properties. Fourier spectra of magnetic field fluctuations observed by various spacecraft in the different domains of the magnetotail a…
Laboratory Studies Towards Understanding Comets
Hartogh, Paul; Marboeuf, Ulysse; Mousis, Olivier +13 more
This review presents some of the recent advancements in our understanding of comets facilitated by laboratory studies, need for new laboratory simulations, and predictions for future explorations. With the spacecraft Rosetta at the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, a large volume of science data is expected to follow early results that have been pu…
Solar Dynamics, Rotation, Convection and Overshoot
Thompson, M. J.; Schou, J.; Roth, M. +3 more
We discuss recent observational, theoretical and modeling progress made in understanding the Sun's internal dynamics, including its rotation, meridional flow, convection and overshoot. Over the past few decades, substantial theoretical and observational effort has gone into appreciating these aspects of solar dynamics. A review of these observatio…