Induced magnetosphere of the Moon. 1. Theory

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 13, pp. 2094-2110

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA078i013p02094· OSTI ID:4403762

Schubert, G; Sonett, C P; Schwartz, K; Lee, H J

An analytic solution for the magnetic field in the space defined by a spherical moon and its downstream cylindrical cavity formed by the solar wind is derived for interplanetary magnetic fields both parallel and perpendicular to the cavity axis. By superposition, the solution is obtained for arbitrary orientations of the interplanetary field. The theory is quasi-static and is formulated in terms of a scalar magnetic potential. Thus the moon model consists of a core of arbitrary size and infinite electrical conductivity surrounded by a nonconducting shell; the cavity volume is also assumed to be nonconducting. The variation of the magnetic field on the lunar surface (both sunlit and dark hemispheres) and on the cavity boundary is presented for various values of core radius. The solution also yields the distribution of currents on the lunar sunlit surface and the surface of the cavity. Theoretical transfer functions are also presented, and their variations with position on the lunar surface and with core size are discussed. The results are compared with those of spherically symmetric approximations to lunar magnetic induction. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Los Angeles
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-003303
• OSTI ID: 4403762
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 13, pp. 2094-2110, Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 13, pp. 2094-2110; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*MOON-- MAGNETOSPHERE
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
INDUCTION
N56700* --Physics (Astrophysics & Cosmology)--Planetary Phenomena
SOLAR WIND