The formation of the Venus ionopause: Interaction between the mantle region and the solar wind

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dc.contributor.advisorCloutier, Paul A.
dc.creatorMatney, Mark John
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-04T00:34:43Z
dc.date.available2009-06-04T00:34:43Z
dc.date.issued1990
dc.description.abstractThe solar wind interacts with the non-magnetic planet Venus by processes within the mantle region, located between the upstream shock and the ionosphere. In this region exospheric neutral atoms from Venus interact with electrons and ions in the moving plasma and modify its flow, resulting in a region of sharp ion density gradients at the boundary between the ionosphere and the mantle called the ionopause. The effect of mass-loading may be simulated by modifying the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations to include source and loss terms and electromagnetic forces. Using the assumption that the plasma behaves like a fluid, we construct a model to simplify the physics in the mantle. With this model it is possible to generate an oxygen "ledge" in the ion density similar to the observed ionopause. The calculations also show an enhancement in the magnetic field strength above the ionopause as that observed at Venus.
dc.format.extent74 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS SP. SCI. 1990 MATNEY
dc.identifier.citationMatney, Mark John. "The formation of the Venus ionopause: Interaction between the mantle region and the solar wind." (1990) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/13451">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/13451</a>.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/13451
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.subjectAstronomy
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.subjectPlasma physics
dc.titleThe formation of the Venus ionopause: Interaction between the mantle region and the solar wind
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentSpace Science
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science
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