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Abstract
We study the solar wind interaction with Mercury using a global three-dimensional hybrid model. In the analysed simulation run, we find a well-developed, dynamic Hermean ion foreshock ahead of the quasi-parallel bow shock under upstream solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions corresponding to the orbital perihelion of the planet. A portion of the incident solar wind ion flux is scattered back upstream near the quasi-parallel bow shock including both major solar wind ion species, protons and alphas. The scattered particles form the Hermean suprathermal foreshock ion population. A significant part of the suprathermal population is backstreaming with a velocity component towards the Sun in the near-foreshock at the planetocentric distance of few planetary radii in the plane of the IMF. The ion foreshock is associated with large-scale, oblique fast magnetosonic waves in the ultra-low-frequency (ULF) range convecting downstream with the solar wind. The ULF wave period is about 5 s in the analysed upstream condition case at Mercury, which corresponds to the 30-s foreshock waves at Earth when scaled by the IMF magnitude.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4147-4161 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
Volume | 491 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2020 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- magnetic fields
- plasmas
- waves
- solar wind
- planet-star interactions
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Dive into the research topics of 'Ultra-low frequency waves in the ion foreshock of Mercury: A global hybrid modeling study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Shocks and Magnetosheaths in the Heliosphere
Pulkkinen, T. (Principal investigator)
01/09/2017 → 31/08/2022
Project: Academy of Finland: Other research funding