Ion trajectories in Mercury’s magnetosphere
Menelaos Sarantos
Rice University, Houston, TX

Abstract:

The atmosphere of Mercury is eroded quickly by photoionization and 
electron impact ionization. Resulting ions are affected by both 
magnetic and electric field forces. The escape flux of these ions from 
Mercury’s magnetosphere is believed to respond to the degree of solar 
wind – Hermean magnetosphere interaction. We present the structure of 
the Hermean magnetosphere obtained by the Toffoletto-Hill (JGR 98, 
1339, 1993) model of an open magnetosphere, and supplement it with the 
Ding et al. (Phys. Space Plasmas, 1996) potential solver to represent 
the convection electric field. We will run our magnetospheric code 
under boundary conditions at Mercury to determine the trajectories of 
ions and electrons in the Hermean magnetosphere. We will compute what 
the fate of Na, K, and other photoions is. Last, we will evaluate the 
role that the IMF plays in generating Na, K, Ar, Ca, and Mg neutrals at 
Mercury by quantitatively predicting the solar wind particle flux that 
directly impinges upon the Hermean surface as we regulate the IMF 
environment.