The variability of Mercury's exosphere by particle and radiation induced surface release processes
- Lammer, H.
- Wurz, P.
- Patel, M.
- Killen, R.
- Kolb, C.
- Massetti, S.
- Orsini, S.
- Milillo, A.
DOIAbstract
Mercury's close orbit around the Sun, its weak intrinsic magnetic field and the absence of an atmosphere (Psurface<1×10−8 Pa) results in a strong direct exposure of the surface to energetic ions, electrons and UV radiation. Thermal processes and particle-surface-collisions dominate the surface interaction processes leading to surface chemistry and physics, including the formation of an exosphere (N1014 cm−2) in which gravity is the dominant force affecting the trajectories of exospheric atoms. NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft observed the existence of H, He, and O in Mercury's exosphere. In addition, the volatile components Na, K, and Ca have been observed by ground based instrumentation in the exosphere. We study the efficiency of several part...
Add to ORKG