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First Lunar Wake Passage of ARTEMIS: Discrimination of Wake Effects and Solar Wind Fluctuations by 3D Hybrid SimulationsThe spacecraft P1 of the new ARTEMIS (Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun) mission passed the lunar wake for the first time on February 13, 2010. We present magnetic field and plasma data of this event and results of 3D hybrid simulations. As the solar wind magnetic field was highly dynamic during the passage, a simulation with stationary solar wind input cannot distinguish whether distortions were caused by these solar wind variations or by the lunar wake; therefore, a dynamic real-time simulation of the flyby has been performed. The input values of this simulation are taken from NASA OMNI data and adapted to the P1 data, resulting in a good agreement between simulation and measurements. Combined with the stationary simulation showing non-transient lunar wake structures, a separation of solar wind and wake effects is achieved. An anisotropy in the magnitude of the plasma bulk flow velocity caused by a non-vanishing magnetic field component parallel to the solar wind flow and perturbations created by counterstreaming ions in the lunar wake are observed in data and simulations. The simulations help to interpret the data granting us the opportunity to examine the entire lunar plasma environment and, thus, extending the possibilities of measurements alone: A comparison of a simulation cross section to theoretical predictions of MHD wave propagation shows that all three basic MHD modes are present in the lunar wake and that their expansion governs the lunar wake refilling process.
Document ID
20110015605
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wiehle, S.
(Technische Univ. Brunswick, Germany)
Plaschke, F.
(Technische Univ. Brunswick, Germany)
Motschmann, U.
(Technische Univ. Brunswick, Germany)
Glassmeier, K. H.
(Technische Univ. Brunswick, Germany)
Auster, H. U.
(Technische Univ. Brunswick, Germany)
Angelopoulos, V.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Mueller, J.
(Technische Univ. Brunswick, Germany)
Kriegel, H.
(Technische Univ. Brunswick, Germany)
Georgescu, E.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Sonnensystemforschung Lindau, Germany)
Halekas, J.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Sibeck, D. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McFadden, J. P.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: Planetary and Space Science
Volume: 59
Issue: 8
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.5054.2011
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-02099
CONTRACT_GRANT: DFG MO539/16-1
CONTRACT_GRANT: DFG MO539/17-1
CONTRACT_GRANT: DLR 50OC1001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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