Comparative planetary X-ray emissions

这个研究方案包括对不同行星空间环境的x射线辐射进行数据分析和理论建模。我们将利用天基望远镜对木星和土星进行x射线观测（使用XMM/牛顿和钱德拉x射线天文台），并将其与紫外线辐射测量（使用哈勃太空望远镜）进行比较。这些数据将增加我们对产生“极光”和“非极光”行星x射线发射的过程的理解，并将允许直接调查木星和土星的x射线和紫外线发射之间的关系。这种性质的研究使我们对产生辐射的物理机制有了更深入的了解，从而对天体物理等离子体有了更深入的了解。行星x射线（和紫外线）的特征是一个有趣的表现之间的相互作用与周围的等离子体环境的问题，并提供了重要的线索之间的相互作用的本质太阳风，磁层，和上层大气和/或行星表面。我们将发展现有的木星和土星的理论模型，并将这些模型的结果与x射线和紫外线的观测结果进行比较。这种比较行星科学将有助于制定一个关于水星的新研究方案，为贝皮科伦坡任务做准备（空间研究中心将建造x射线光谱仪- MIXS）。我们将通过重新分析水手10号的数据开始我们对水星的研究，开发现有系统的理论模型，并估计太阳风与水星磁层相互作用相关的x射线通量。我们将分析来自美国宇航局信使号水星任务的新数据，这些数据将在这项拨款的最后一年提供。这种性质的研究对于充分理解和利用MIXS在水星的实验数据至关重要。

This programme of research includes data analysis and theoretical modelling of X-ray emissions from diverse planetary space environments. We will use space-based telescopes to observe Jupiter and Saturn in the X-ray (using the XMM/Newton and Chandra X-ray Observatory), and compare them with emissions measured in the ultraviolet (using the Hubble Space Telescope). These data will increase our understanding of the processes which produce both 'auroral' and 'non-auroral' planetary X-ray emissions in general, and will allow direct investigation of the relationship between the X-ray and ultraviolet emissions at Jupiter and Saturn. Studies of this nature allow an advanced understanding of the physical mechanisms which produce the emissions, and hence lead to a greater understanding of astrophysical plasmas in general. Planetary X-ray (and UV) signatures are an intriguing manifestation of the interaction between the body in question with its surrounding plasma environment, and as such offer important clues as to the nature of the interaction between the solar wind, the magnetosphere, and the upper atmosphere and/or the surface of the planet. We will develop existing theoretical models for Jupiter and Saturn, and compare the results of these models with the X-ray and ultraviolet observations. This comparative planetary science will enable the development of a new research programme on the subject of Mercury in preparation for the BepiColombo mission (the Space Research Centre will build the X-ray spectrometer - MIXS). We will begin our studies of Mercury by re-analysing the Mariner-10 data, develop theoretical models of the current systems which exist, and estimate the X-ray flux associated with the solar wind interaction with Mercury's magnetosphere. We will analyse the new data from the NASA Messenger mission to Mercury, which will become available during the final year of this grant. Studies of this nature are essential to allow full understanding and exploitation of the data from the MIXS experiment at Mercury.