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Solar wind charge exchange observed through the lunar exosphere
Author(s) -
Robertson I. P.,
Sembay S.,
Stubbs T. J.,
Kuntz K. D.,
Collier M. R.,
Cravens T. E.,
Snowden S. L.,
Hills H. K.,
Porter F. S.,
Travnicek P.,
Carter J. A.,
Read A. M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2009gl040834
Subject(s) - exosphere , solar wind , astrobiology , charge exchange , environmental science , coronal mass ejection , geophysics , physics , astronomy , geology , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , plasma , ion , quantum mechanics
X‐rays can be generated by charge exchange between highly‐charged heavy solar wind ions and neutrals. Previously, simulations have only been performed for X‐ray emission due to solar wind charge exchange (SWCX) with geocoronal and interstellar neutrals. However, X‐rays can also be generated by SWCX with the Moon's tenuous exosphere, which should be detectable by an imaging X‐ray instrument located on the Moon. In addition, lunar‐based observations of X‐ray emission originating from Earth's magnetosheath will be able to provide information on the dynamic response of the bow shock and magnetopause to solar wind variations. Furthermore, X‐ray emissions from SWCX within the heliosphere constitute part of the soft X‐ray background (SXRB) emission, competing with emissions originating from outside the solar system. Lunar observations of soft X‐rays will give additional information about these charge exchange processes and be critical in removing the heliospheric component of the SXRB.