Open AccessEnergetic neutral atoms at Mars 2. Imaging of the solar wind‐Phobos interaction
Author(s) -
Mura Alessandro,
Milillo Anna,
Orsini Stefano,
Kallio Esa,
Barabash Stas
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2001ja000328
Subject(s) - exosphere , mars exploration program , outgassing , martian , astrobiology , solar wind , energetic neutral atom , physics , population , astronomy , atmosphere (unit) , atmosphere of mars , meteorology , electron , plasma , ion , demography , quantum mechanics , sociology
The interactions between the solar wind and the neutral gas from Mars' moon Phobos and from the Martian exosphere are examined in order to check the feasibility of the energetic neutral atoms (ENA) remote sensing technique applied to Phobos' environment. Both solar wind and Mars exosphere models, as given in the literature, have been used. The density distribution of an outgassed neutral oxygen population located at Phobos' orbit has been simulated via Monte Carlo integration. Images and energy spectra of ENA, escaping through charge exchange processes, have been reconstructed applying a line of sight integration method. The performed simulation shows that the ENA signal originated from Phobos' environment is faint while observing far from Phobos location; anyway, it could be detected in some particular Mars‐Phobos vantage point configurations. The possibility that the neutral oxygen outgassing rate might be estimated through ENA signal deconvolution is briefly discussed.