Interaction of Comet Shoemaker-Levy-9 with the Jovian Magnetosphere

Shoemaker-Levy-9 彗星与木星磁层的相互作用

• 批准号: 9322360
• 负责人: Thomas Hill
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: William Marsh Rice University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1994
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1994-04-01 至 1996-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9322360&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Interaction; Comet; Shoemaker; Levy; Jovian

9322360 Hill The investigators propose to carry out theoretical investigations of the plasma interactions associated with the impending encounter of the Comet Shoemaker-Levy-9 fragments with Jupiter and its magnetosphere. They will concentrate on potentially observable consequences of the interaction of comet material with the magnetosphere, both before and after the impact episode. Because the comet is already fragmented and carries significant dust (and perhaps gas) components, its interaction with Jupiter's magnetosphere may well have observable effects upon its first encounter with the bow shock or magnetopause, about a month before planetary impact. These effects include electrostatic disruption of grains, copious ionization, and the intriguing possibility of remote optical imaging of the magnetospheric boundary. During and after the impact episode, magnetospheric convection may be influenced by the mass-loading effect of comet ejecta, with observable consequences in the optical Io torus, the Jovian aurora, and Jovian radio emissions. The theoretical investigation of these phenomena will combine analytical and tested numerical techniques, and will be carried out in close conjunction with relevant observational programs to maximize the scientific return from this rare celestial event. ***

9322360希尔，研究人员提议对与休梅克-利维-9彗星碎片即将与木星及其磁层相遇有关的等离子体相互作用进行理论研究。他们将集中研究彗星物质与磁层相互作用的潜在可观测后果，无论是在撞击事件之前还是之后。由于这颗彗星已经碎裂，并携带了大量的尘埃(也许还有气体)成分，它与木星磁层的相互作用很可能在它第一次遇到弓形激波或磁层顶时产生明显的影响，大约在行星撞击前一个月。这些效应包括颗粒的静电干扰，丰富的电离，以及有趣的磁层边界的远程光学成像的可能性。在撞击幕期间和之后，磁层对流可能受到彗星抛射的质量加载效应的影响，在光学Io环、木星极光和木星射电发射中产生可观察到的后果。对这些现象的理论研究将结合分析和测试的数值技术，并将密切结合相关观测计划进行，以最大限度地从这一罕见的天体事件中获得科学回报。***