Dusty plasma in the region of the lunar terminator
Journal Article
·
· Plasma Physics Reports
- Russian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute (Russian Federation)
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Space Research Center (Poland)
Dusty plasma in the region of the lunar terminator is considered. It is shown that, in this region, a structure resembling a plasma sheath forms near the lunar surface. This sheath creates a potential barrier, due to which electrons over the illuminated part of the Moon are confined by electrostatic forces. The width of the sheath-like structure is on the order of the ion Debye length. In this structure, significant (about several hundred V/m) electric fields arise, which lift charged micron-size dust grains to heights of several tens of centimeters. The suggested effect may be used to explain the glow observed by the Surveyor spacecraft over the lunar terminator.
- OSTI ID:
- 22614121
- Journal Information:
- Plasma Physics Reports, Vol. 42, Issue 5; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2016 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-780X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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