Hybrid simulations of the O<sup>+</sup> ion escape from Venus: Influence of the solar wind density and the IMF <italic>x</italic> component

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Hybrid simulations of the O⁺ ion escape from Venus: Influence of the solar wind density and the IMF x component

Liu, K. / Kallio, E. / Jarvinen, R. / Lammer, H. / Lichtenegger, H.I.M. / Kulikov, Yu.N. / Terada, N. / Zhang, T.L. / Janhunen, P.

Abstract

AbstractAs an initial effort to study the evolution of the Venus atmosphere, the influence of the solar wind density and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) x component (the x-axis points from Venus towards the Sun) on the O⁺ ion escape rate from Venus is investigated using a three-dimensional quasi-neutral hybrid (HYB-Venus) model. The HYB-Venus model is first applied to a case of the high-density (100cm⁻³) solar wind interaction with Venus selected from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter observations to demonstrate its capability for the study. Two sets of simulations with a wide range of solar wind densities and different IMF x components are then performed. It is found that the O⁺ ion escape rate increases with increasing solar wind density. The O⁺ ion escape rate saturates when the solar wind density becomes high (above 100cm⁻³). The results also suggest that the IMF x component enhances the O⁺ ion escape rate, given a fixed IMF component perpendicular to the x-axis. Finally, the results imply a higher ion loss rate for early-Venus, when solar conditions were dramatically different.

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Document information

Title :

Hybrid simulations of the O⁺ ion escape from Venus: Influence of the solar wind density and the IMF x component

Contributors:

Liu, K. (author) / Kallio, E. (author) / Jarvinen, R. (author) / Lammer, H. (author) / Lichtenegger, H.I.M. (author) / Kulikov, Yu.N. (author) / Terada, N. (author) / Zhang, T.L. (author) / Janhunen, P. (author)

Published in:

Advances in Space Research ; 43 , 9 ; 1436-1441

Publication date :

2009-01-12

Size :

6 pages

ISSN :

0273-1177

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2009.01.005

Type of media :

Article (Journal)