Currents and magnetic field structures in the dayside solar wind interaction with Venus and Mars

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorCloutier, Paul A.en_US
dc.creatorLaw, Colin Christianen_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-03T23:55:48Zen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-03T23:55:48Zen_US
dc.date.issued1996en_US
dc.description.abstractThe solar wind interaction with the non-magnetic Venerean ionospheric obstacle is unique. Ionospheric models of this interaction have primarily been in two dimensions that do not allow for changes in the orientation of the solar wind magnetic field near the obstacle. Analysis of high resolution magnetic field data from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter spacecraft has revealed field rotations that are observed to occur in conjunction with the dayside ionopause. These rotations are a result of the velocity shear at the ionopause and indicate the alignment of the magnetic field with the radial day to night flow of ionospheric plasma. A new configuration of the dayside magnetic field draping has been derived from these results. In addition, a new current system to account for this changing field orientation has been determined and is discussed in relation to current systems derived from previous models. These new aspects of the dayside solar wind interaction at Venus can be applied to other similar solar system objects. Assuming Mars also represents a non-magnetic obstacle to the flow, as past experimental observations indicate, the field diagnostics discovered here make it possible to probe the structure of the Martian ionosphere using magnetometer data in the absence of ion mass spectrometer data. These results will play a major role in predictive modeling and data analysis for future Mars missions.en_US
dc.format.extent114 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS SP. SCI. 1996 LAWen_US
dc.identifier.citationLaw, Colin Christian. "Currents and magnetic field structures in the dayside solar wind interaction with Venus and Mars." (1996) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17006">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17006</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/17006en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
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.en_US
dc.subjectPlasma physicsen_US
dc.subjectAtmospheric sciencesen_US
dc.subjectAstronomyen_US
dc.subjectAstrophysicsen_US
dc.titleCurrents and magnetic field structures in the dayside solar wind interaction with Venus and Marsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentSpace Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
9631164.PDF
Size:
4.62 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
Collections
Rice University Theses and Dissertations