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Detailed Reference Information |
Hartle, R.E., Curtis, S.A., Thomas, G.E. and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, a.f.P.A. (1975). Mercury’s helium exosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research 80: doi: 10.1029/JA080i025p03689. issn: 0148-0227. |
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A model He exosphere of Mercury is developed whose source derives from accretion of the small fraction of solar wind He++ that is captured by the magnetosphere and absorbed at the planetary surface. The model is based on a lunar analogy whereby the surface is saturaged in He. Surface and radial density distributions are derived, and the day side concentration is determined by requiring the limb intensity at 584 ¿ to equal the observed intensity. To maintain the He exosphere, we find that only the fraction 6.2¿10-4 of the solar wind He++ flux intercepted by the magnetosphere need be captured. This corresponds to a total accretion rate of 6.8¿1022 He++ s-1 at the surface, which also represents the upper limit to the total outgassing rate of He from the interior. |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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