Publication Date:
2013-03-20
Description:
[1] We experimentally investigated the solar wind interaction with moderate strength lunar magnetic anomalies in which the electrons are magnetized but the ions remain unmagnetized. Previously, we studied the plasma sheaths above an insulating surface in a magnetic dipole field oriented parallel to the surface [ Wang et al ., 2012]. In this paper, when the dipole field is oriented normal to the surface, the surface potential largely rises and a potential bump forms in the sheath in the magnetic cusp region due to a significant magnetic mirror reflection of the electrons. It is also found that the electrons are shielded from the central dipole wings and diverted into the side of the wings. When the dipole field obliquely intersects the surface, an asymmetric potential distribution develops. Our experimental results indicate that lunar surface charging can be greatly modified in the magnetic anomaly regions, creating extreme local electrical environments.
Print ISSN:
0094-8276
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8007
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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