MESSENGER observations of the spatial distribution of planetary ions near Mercury |
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Authors: | Zurbuchen Thomas H Raines Jim M Slavin James A Gershman Daniel J Gilbert Jason A Gloeckler George Anderson Brian J Baker Daniel N Korth Haje Krimigis Stamatios M Sarantos Menelaos Schriver David McNutt Ralph L Solomon Sean C |
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Affiliation: | Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143, USA. thomasz@umich.edu |
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Abstract: | Global measurements by MESSENGER of the fluxes of heavy ions at Mercury, particularly sodium (Na(+)) and oxygen (O(+)), exhibit distinct maxima in the northern magnetic-cusp region, indicating that polar regions are important sources of Mercury's ionized exosphere, presumably through solar-wind sputtering near the poles. The observed fluxes of helium (He(+)) are more evenly distributed, indicating a more uniform source such as that expected from evaporation from a helium-saturated surface. In some regions near Mercury, especially the nightside equatorial region, the Na(+) pressure can be a substantial fraction of the proton pressure. |
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