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Holmström et al. 2001
Holmström, M., Barabash, S. and Kallio, E. (2001). X-ray imaging of the solar wind—Mars interaction. Geophysical Research Letters 28: doi: 10.1029/2000GL012381. issn: 0094-8276.

Wherever the solar wind meets a neutral atmosphere, X-rays are emitted by charge-exchange processes between heavy solar wind ions and the neutrals. Using an empirical model of the proton flow near Mars we present computer simulations of X-ray emissions from this charge-exchange process in Mars' exosphere. We also discuss implications for remote sensing. Here we show that the total X-ray luminosity near Mars from charge-exchange is greater than 1025 eV/s for typical solar wind conditions. This flux is large enough to be detected by an X-ray satellite in Earth orbit. Thus, Mars belongs to a new class of X-ray objects in the sky, together with other non-magnetized planets, such as Venus. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Solar wind interactions with unmagnetized bodies, Mathematical Geophysics, Numerical solutions, Planetology, Solar System Objects, Mars, Solar Physics, Astrophysics, and Astronomy, X rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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