Comparative investigation of the terrestrial and Venusian magnetopause: Kinetic modeling and experimental observations by Cluster and Venus Express
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Authors
Echim, M.
Maggiolo, R.
De Keyser, J.
Zhang, T.L.
Voitcu, G.
Barabash, S.
Lundin, R.
Discipline
Physical sciences
Subject
Bow shocks
Cluster spacecraft
Experimental observation
Induced magnetospheres
Kinetic modeling
Kinetic structure
Magnetic field profile
Magnetopause
Magnetosheaths
Main characteristics
Plasma layer
Solar-wind ions
Spatial scale
Tangential discontinuities
Terrestrial magnetosphere
Time interval
Venus
Venus Express
Vlasov equilibria
Igneous rocks
Interplanetary spacecraft
Kinetic theory
Kinetics
Magnetic fields
Planets
Solar wind
Magnetosphere
Audience
Scientific
Date
2011Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
In June 2006 Venus Express crossed several times the outer boundary of Venus induced magnetosphere, its magnetosheath and its bow shock. During the same interval the Cluster spacecraft surveyed the dawn flank of the terrestrial magnetosphere, intersected the Earth's magnetopause and spent long time intervals in the magnetosheath. This configuration offers the opportunity to perform a joint investigation of the interface between Venus and Earth's outer plasma layers and the shocked solar wind. We discuss the kinetic structure of the magnetopause of both planets, its global characteristics and the effects on the interaction between the planetary plasma and the solar wind. A Vlasov equilibrium model is constructed for both planetary magnetopauses and provides good estimates of the magnetic field profile across the interface. The model is also in agreement with plasma data and evidence the role of planetary and solar wind ions on the spatial scale of the equilibrium magnetopause of the two planets. The main characteristics of the two magnetopauses are discussed and compared.
Citation
Echim, M.; Maggiolo, R.; De Keyser, J.; Zhang, T.L.; Voitcu, G.; Barabash, S.; Lundin, R. (2011). Comparative investigation of the terrestrial and Venusian magnetopause: Kinetic modeling and experimental observations by Cluster and Venus Express. , Planetary and Space Science, Vol. 59, Issue 10, 1028-1038, DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2010.04.019.Identifiers
scopus: 2-s2.0-79961171045
Type
Article
Peer-Review
Yes
Language
eng