1
|
Cohen IJ, Smith EJ, Clark GB, Turner DL, Ellison DH, Clare B, Regoli LH, Kollmann P, Gallagher DT, Holtzman GA, Likar JJ, Morizono T, Shannon M, Vodusek KS. Plasma Environment, Radiation, Structure, and Evolution of the Uranian System (PERSEUS): A Dedicated Orbiter Mission Concept to Study Space Physics at Uranus. SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS 2023; 219:65. [PMID: 37869526 PMCID: PMC10587260 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-023-01013-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The Plasma Environment, Radiation, Structure, and Evolution of the Uranian System (PERSEUS) mission concept defines the feasibility and potential scope of a dedicated, standalone Heliophysics orbiter mission to study multiple space physics science objectives at Uranus. Uranus's complex and dynamic magnetosphere presents a unique laboratory to study magnetospheric physics as well as its coupling to the solar wind and the planet's atmosphere, satellites, and rings. From the planet's tilted and offset, rapidly-rotating non-dipolar magnetic field to its seasonally-extreme interactions with the solar wind to its unexpectedly intense electron radiation belts, Uranus hosts a range of outstanding and compelling mysteries relevant to the space physics community. While the exploration of planets other than Earth has largely fallen within the purview of NASA's Planetary Science Division, many targets, like Uranus, also hold immense scientific value and interest to NASA's Heliophysics Division. Exploring and understanding Uranus's magnetosphere is critical to make fundamental gains in magnetospheric physics and the understanding of potential exoplanetary systems and to test the validity of our knowledge of magnetospheric dynamics, moon-magnetosphere interactions, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, and solar wind-planetary coupling. The PERSEUS mission concept study, currently at Concept Maturity Level (CML) 4, comprises a feasible payload that provides closure to a range of space physics science objectives in a reliable and mature spacecraft and mission design architecture. The mission is able to close using only a single Mod-1 Next-Generation Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (NG-RTG) by leveraging a concept of operations that relies of a significant hibernation mode for a large portion of its 22-day orbit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian J Cohen
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Evan J Smith
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - George B Clark
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Drew L Turner
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Donald H Ellison
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Ben Clare
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Leonardo H Regoli
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Peter Kollmann
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | | | - G Allan Holtzman
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Justin J Likar
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Takeshi Morizono
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | - Matthew Shannon
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Paty C, Arridge CS, Cohen IJ, DiBraccio GA, Ebert RW, Rymer AM. Ice giant magnetospheres. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2020; 378:20190480. [PMID: 33161869 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The ice giant planets provide some of the most interesting natural laboratories for studying the influence of large obliquities, rapid rotation, highly asymmetric magnetic fields and wide-ranging Alfvénic and sonic Mach numbers on magnetospheric processes. The geometries of the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction at the ice giants vary dramatically on diurnal timescales due to the large tilt of the magnetic axis relative to each planet's rotational axis and the apparent off-centred nature of the magnetic field. There is also a seasonal effect on this interaction geometry due to the large obliquity of each planet (especially Uranus). With in situ observations at Uranus and Neptune limited to a single encounter by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, a growing number of analytical and numerical models have been put forward to characterize these unique magnetospheres and test hypotheses related to the magnetic structures and the distribution of plasma observed. Yet many questions regarding magnetospheric structure and dynamics, magnetospheric coupling to the ionosphere and atmosphere, and potential interactions with orbiting satellites remain unanswered. Continuing to study and explore ice giant magnetospheres is important for comparative planetology as they represent critical benchmarks on a broad spectrum of planetary magnetospheric interactions, and provide insight beyond the scope of our own Solar System with implications for exoplanet magnetospheres and magnetic reversals. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Future exploration of ice giant systems'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carol Paty
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, 100 Cascade Hall, Eugene, OR 97403-1272, USA
| | - Chris S Arridge
- Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Ian J Cohen
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11000 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - Gina A DiBraccio
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
| | - Robert W Ebert
- Department of Space Research, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78228-0510, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX 78249-0600, USA
| | - Abigail M Rymer
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11000 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bagenal F, Horányi M, McComas DJ, McNutt RL, Elliott HA, Hill ME, Brown LE, Delamere PA, Kollmann P, Krimigis SM, Kusterer M, Lisse CM, Mitchell DG, Piquette M, Poppe AR, Strobel DF, Szalay JR, Valek P, Vandegriff J, Weidner S, Zirnstein EJ, Stern SA, Ennico K, Olkin CB, Weaver HA, Young LA. Pluto's interaction with its space environment: Solar wind, energetic particles, and dust. Science 2016; 351:aad9045. [PMID: 26989259 DOI: 10.1126/science.aad9045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The New Horizons spacecraft carried three instruments that measured the space environment near Pluto as it flew by on 14 July 2015. The Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument revealed an interaction region confined sunward of Pluto to within about 6 Pluto radii. The region's surprisingly small size is consistent with a reduced atmospheric escape rate, as well as a particularly high solar wind flux. Observations from the Pluto Energetic Particle Spectrometer Science Investigation (PEPSSI) instrument suggest that ions are accelerated and/or deflected around Pluto. In the wake of the interaction region, PEPSSI observed suprathermal particle fluxes equal to about 1/10 of the flux in the interplanetary medium and increasing with distance downstream. The Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter, which measures grains with radii larger than 1.4 micrometers, detected one candidate impact in ±5 days around New Horizons' closest approach, indicating an upper limit of <4.6 kilometers(-3) for the dust density in the Pluto system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Bagenal
- Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80600, USA.
| | - M Horányi
- Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80600, USA
| | - D J McComas
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78228, USA. University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - R L McNutt
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - H A Elliott
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78228, USA
| | - M E Hill
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - L E Brown
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | | | - P Kollmann
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - S M Krimigis
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA. Academy of Athens, 28 Panapistimiou, 10679 Athens, Greece
| | - M Kusterer
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - C M Lisse
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - D G Mitchell
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - M Piquette
- Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80600, USA
| | - A R Poppe
- Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - D F Strobel
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - J R Szalay
- Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80600, USA. Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - P Valek
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78228, USA
| | - J Vandegriff
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - S Weidner
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78228, USA
| | - E J Zirnstein
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78228, USA
| | - S A Stern
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - K Ennico
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - C B Olkin
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - H A Weaver
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - L A Young
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sulaiman AH, Masters A, Dougherty MK, Burgess D, Fujimoto M, Hospodarsky GB. Quasiperpendicular High Mach Number Shocks. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2015; 115:125001. [PMID: 26430997 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.115.125001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Shock waves exist throughout the Universe and are fundamental to understanding the nature of collisionless plasmas. Reformation is a process, driven by microphysics, which typically occurs at high Mach number supercritical shocks. While ongoing studies have investigated this process extensively both theoretically and via simulations, their observations remain few and far between. In this Letter we present a study of very high Mach number shocks in a parameter space that has been poorly explored and we identify reformation using in situ magnetic field observations from the Cassini spacecraft at 10 AU. This has given us an insight into quasiperpendicular shocks across 2 orders of magnitude in Alfvén Mach number (M_{A}) which could potentially bridge the gap between modest terrestrial shocks and more exotic astrophysical shocks. For the first time, we show evidence for cyclic reformation controlled by specular ion reflection occurring at the predicted time scale of ~0.3τ_{c}, where τ_{c} is the ion gyroperiod. In addition, we experimentally reveal the relationship between reformation and M_{A} and focus on the magnetic structure of such shocks to further show that for the same M_{A}, a reforming shock exhibits stronger magnetic field amplification than a shock that is not reforming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A H Sulaiman
- Space and Atmospheric Physics, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - A Masters
- Space and Atmospheric Physics, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - M K Dougherty
- Space and Atmospheric Physics, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - D Burgess
- Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - M Fujimoto
- Institute of Space and Astronomical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210, Japan
| | - G B Hospodarsky
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sittler EC, Ogilvie KW, Selesnick R. Survey of electrons in the Uranian magnetosphere: Voyager 2 observations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/ja092ia13p15263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
6
|
Voigt G‐H, Behannon KW, Ness NF. Magnetic field and current structures in the magnetosphere of Uranus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/ja092ia13p15337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
7
|
Brecht SH, Ferrante JR, Luhmann JG. Three-dimensional simulations of the solar wind interaction with Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/92ja02198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
8
|
Smith CW, Wong HK, Goldstein ML. Whistler waves associated with the Uranian bow shock: Outbound observations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/91ja01460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
9
|
Selesnick RS, McNutt RL. Voyager 2 plasma ion observations in the magnetosphere of Uranus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/ja092ia13p15249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
10
|
Tiu D, Cairns IH, Yuan X, Robinson PA. Evidence for reformation of the Uranian bow shock: Hybrid simulations and comparisons with Voyager data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2010ja016057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dion Tiu
- School of Physics; University of Sydney; Sydney, New South Wales Australia
| | - Iver H. Cairns
- School of Physics; University of Sydney; Sydney, New South Wales Australia
| | - Xingqiu Yuan
- School of Physics; University of Sydney; Sydney, New South Wales Australia
- Geomagnetic Laboratory, Natural Resources Canada; Ottawa, Ontario Canada
| | - P. A. Robinson
- School of Physics; University of Sydney; Sydney, New South Wales Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
|
12
|
Abstract
An understanding of interstellar shock waves is crucial in determining the structure of the interstellar medium. By causing the gas to radiate, interstellar shocks provide astronomers with valuable diagnostics on both the physical conditions in the interstellar medium and the energy source that produced the shock. The complexity of the interstellar plasma-its degree of ionization, its molecular content, the presence of small dust grains and cosmic rays, and the magnetic field-leads to a rich variety of structures for interstellar shocks, which are being actively investigated both observationally and theoretically.
Collapse
|
13
|
Brecht SH, Ferrante JR. Global hybrid simulation of unmagnetized planets: Comparison of Venus and Mars. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1991. [DOI: 10.1029/91ja00671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
14
|
|
15
|
Belcher JW, Bridge HS, Bagenal F, Coppi B, Divers O, Eviatar A, Gordon GS, Lazarus AJ, McNutt RL, Ogilvie KW, Richardson JD, Siscoe GL, Sittler EC, Steinberg JT, Sullivan JD, Szabo A, Villanueva L, Vasyliunas VM, Zhang M. Plasma Observations Near Neptune: Initial Results from Voyager 2. Science 1989; 246:1478-83. [PMID: 17756003 DOI: 10.1126/science.246.4936.1478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The plasma science experiment on Voyager 2 made observations of the plasma environment in Neptune's magnetosphere and in the surrounding solar wind. Because of the large tilt of the magnetic dipole and fortuitous timing, Voyager entered Neptune's magnetosphere through the cusp region, the first cusp observations at an outer planet. Thus the transition from the magnetosheath to the magnetosphere observed by Voyager 2 was not sharp but rather appeared as a gradual decrease in plasma density and temperature. The maximum plasma density observed in the magnetosphere is inferred to be 1.4 per cubic centimeter (the exact value depends on the composition), the smallest observed by Voyager in any magnetosphere. The plasma has at least two components; light ions (mass, 1 to 5) and heavy ions (mass, 10 to 40), but more precise species identification is not yet available. Most of the plasma is concentrated in a plasma sheet or plasma torus and near closest approach to the planet. A likely source of the heavy ions is Triton's atmosphere or ionosphere, whereas the light ions probably escape from Neptune. The large tilt of Neptune's magnetic dipole produces a dynamic magnetosphere that changes configuration every 16 hours as the planet rotates.
Collapse
|
16
|
Smith CW, Goldstein ML, Wong HK. Whistler wave bursts upstream of the Uranian bow shock. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1989. [DOI: 10.1029/ja094ia12p17035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
17
|
Thomas VA. Dimensionality effects in hybrid simulations of high Mach number collisionless perpendicular shocks. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1989. [DOI: 10.1029/ja094ia09p12009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
18
|
Schwartz SJ, Thomsen MF, Bame SJ, Stansberry J. Electron heating and the potential jump across fast mode shocks. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1988. [DOI: 10.1029/ja093ia11p12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|