A model of impulsive acceleration and transport of energetic particles in Mercury's magnetosphere

A qualitative model of substorm processes in the Mercury magnetosphere is presented based on Mariner 10 observations obtained in 1974-1975. The model is predicated on close analogies observed with the terrestrial case. Particular emphasis is given to energetic particle phenomena as observed by Mariner on March 29, 1974. The suggestion is supported that energetic particles up to about 500 keV are produced by strong induced electric fields at 3 to about 6 Mercury radii in the Hermean tail in association with substorm neutral line formation. The bursts of energetic particles produced are, in this model, subsequently confined on closed field lines near Mercury and drift adiabatically on quasi-trapped orbits for many tens of seconds. Such gradient and curvature drift of the particles can explain prominent periodicities of 5-10 s seen in the Mariner for greater than 170-keV electron flux profiles.

[1]  J. Eraker,et al.  Acceleration of charged particles in Mercury's magnetosphere , 1986 .

[2]  N. Sckopke,et al.  Relation between energetic electrons, protons, and the thermal plasma sheet population: Plasma sheet recovery events , 1985 .

[3]  M. Kivelson,et al.  Observation and Modeling of Energetic Particles at Synchronous Orbit on July 29, 1977 , 1982 .

[4]  E. W. Hones,et al.  Plasma behavior during energetic electron streaming events: Further evidence for substorm‐associated magnetic reconnection , 1982 .

[5]  T. Moore,et al.  Propagating substorm injection fronts , 1981 .

[6]  E. W. Hones,et al.  Timing of energetic proton enhancements relative to magnetospheric substorm activity and its implication for substorm theories , 1981 .

[7]  E. W. Hones,et al.  High‐energy magnetospheric protons and their dependence on geomagnetic and interplanetary conditions , 1979 .

[8]  J. Eraker,et al.  Electron calibration of instrumentation for low energy, high intensity particle measurements at Mercury , 1979 .

[9]  James A. Slavin,et al.  The effect of erosion on the solar wind stand-off distance at Mercury , 1979 .

[10]  W. I. Axford,et al.  Energetic protons near the plasma sheet boundary , 1979, Nature.

[11]  E. W. Hones,et al.  High‐resolution energetic particle measurements at 6.6 RE, 2. High‐energy proton drift echoes , 1978 .

[12]  G. Siscoe,et al.  Observations at the planet Mercury by the plasma electron experiment, Mariner 10 , 1976 .

[13]  N. Ness,et al.  Substorms on Mercury , 1975 .

[14]  Y. Whang.  Magnetosphere of Mercury , 1975 .

[15]  J. Eraker,et al.  Electrons and Protons Accelerated in Mercury's Magnetic Field , 1974, Science.

[16]  W. I. Axford.  Magnetic Field Reconnection , 1984 .

[17]  S. Krimigis,et al.  ENERGETIC PARTICLE BURSTS IN THE EARTH'S MAGNETOTAIL , 1979 .

[18]  R. Ramaty.  Energetic particles in solar flares , 1979 .