Dusty plasma in the region of the lunar terminator

Journal Article · Sun May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X16050147· OSTI ID:22614121

Zelenyi, L. M. ^[1]; Atamaniuk, B. ^[2]

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1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute (Russian Federation)
2. 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

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DEBYE LENGTH
DUSTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
ELECTROSTATICS
MOON
PLASMA SHEATH
POTENTIALS
SPACE VEHICLES