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Global Maps of Solar Wind Electron Modification by Electrostatic Waves Above the Lunar Day Side: Kaguya Observations
Author(s) -
Harada Yuki,
Kasahara Yoshiya,
Nishino Masaki N.,
Kurita Satoshi,
Saito Yoshifumi,
Yokota Shoichiro,
Kumamoto Atsushi,
Takahashi Futoshi,
Shimizu Hisayoshi
Publication year - 2021
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 - 10.1029/2021gl095260
Subject(s) - solar wind , geophysics , interplanetary magnetic field , physics , magnetic field , interplanetary spaceflight , electron , computational physics , geology , astrobiology , quantum mechanics
Abstract The Moon drives observable perturbations in the upstream solar wind in a similar manner to the terrestrial foreshock. Recent observations suggested that lunar dayside electrostatic waves can arise from two different driving mechanisms, both involving reflected particles from lunar crustal magnetic fields. However, their association with the global distribution of lunar magnetic anomalies have not been fully characterized. Here we exploit polar orbiting Kaguya to generate first global maps of electrostatic waves and solar wind electron modification above the day side of the Moon. The maps clearly demonstrate that the two signatures are correlated with lunar crustal magnetic fields. Additionally, we observe different characteristics of electron modification for different interplanetary magnetic field orientations. The lunar crustal magnetic fields cause a wide range of reflected electron and ion intensities, thereby serving as a test bed to investigate the relative roles of reflected particles on wave excitation and particle heating.