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Detailed Reference Information |
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. |
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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 |
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Abstract |
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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 |
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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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