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月球微磁层的探测

Observations of lunar mini-magnetospheres

  • 摘要: 近月空间环境中的等离子体特性是嫦娥一号及二号卫星的重要科学探测目标之一.基于嫦娥卫星上搭载的太阳风离子探测器(SWID)的测量结果,文章作者对月球表面磁异常结构( LMA)与太阳风相互作用这一空间科学中的热点问题进行了探索,并通过质子相空间分布的信息,初步确认了磁异常结构可以对入射原始太阳风起到屏蔽及加热的作用,形成所谓的“微磁层”结构.这是国际上为数不多的微磁层存在证据之一.文章作者期待这一研究(及后续工作)将不仅对月球表面空间风化效应的研究产生推动作用,同时也将有助于百公里尺度上(即质子回旋半径与宏观尺度相当条件下)的磁层物理学研究的发展.

     

    Abstract: The study of the near-Moon plasma environment is one of the key scientific objectives of China’s Chang’E-1 and Chang’E-2 missions. We investigate here specifically the interactions of the Lunar Magnetic Anomalies (LMA) with the Solar Wind (SW),based on the proton/ion data acquired by the Solar Wind Ion Detector (SWID) mounted on both lunar orbiters.Through the measured proton phase space distribution, we propose tentatively that the lunar magnetic anomalies could shield and heat the incident solar wind particles,with the possible formation of mini-magnetospheres near the anomaly.This study serves as one of the very few observational incidences of the presence of these plasma structures.This work, as well as follow-up studies, may contribute to the studies of both lunar space weathering and magnetospheric physics on scales where finite gyroradius effects are important.

     

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