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The magnetic field of Mercury and models of thermal evolution
Author(s) -
Sharp H. N.,
Strangeway D. W.
Publication year - 1976
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/gl003i005p00285
Subject(s) - dynamo , mercury's magnetic field , mercury (programming language) , planet , magnetic field , moment of inertia , physics , thermal , dynamo theory , terrestrial planet , geophysics , solar system , astrobiology , planetary science , astrophysics , solar wind , interplanetary magnetic field , classical mechanics , meteorology , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
Recent planetary probes have performed in situ measurements of the magnetic fields of all the terrestrial planets. Consideration is given to the origin of these fields, with attention to the equilibrium — condensation hypothesis for the formation of the solar system. In particular, it is shown that Mercury's present day magnetic field could have been acquired during or shortly after a cold accretion or that it could be due to a presently operating dynamo, resulting from a ‘hot evolution’. Two parameters which would help to distinguish between these possibilities are the present‐day surface heat flow and the moment of inertia.