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Analytical model for gyro-phase drift arising from abrupt inhomogeneity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2013

Jeffrey J. Walker*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, West Virginia Univeristy, Morgantown WV 26506, USA
M. E. Koepke
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, West Virginia Univeristy, Morgantown WV 26506, USA
M. I. Zimmerman
Affiliation:
Goddard Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt MD 20771, USA
W. M. Farrell
Affiliation:
Goddard Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt MD 20771, USA
V. I. Demidov
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, West Virginia Univeristy, Morgantown WV 26506, USA University ITMO, Kronverkskiy pr. 49, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
*
Email address for correspondence: [email protected]

Abstract

If a magnetized-orbit-charged grain encounters any abrupt inhomogeneity in plasma conditions during a gyro-orbit, such that the resulting in-situ equilibrium charge is significantly different between these regions (q1/q2 ~ 2, where q1 is the in-situ equilibrium charge on one side of the inhomogeneity, q2 is the in-situ equilibrium charge on the other side, and q1 < q2 < 0), then the capacitive effects of charging and discharging of the dust grain can result in a modification to the orbit-averaged grain trajectory, i.e. gyro-phase drift. The special case of q1/q2 is notioned for the purpose of illustrating the utility of the method. An analytical expression is derived for the grain velocity, assuming a capacitor approximation to the OML charging model. For cases in which a strong electric field suddenly appears in the wake or at the space-plasma-to-crater interface from solar wind and/or ultraviolet illumination and in which a magnetic field permeates an asteroid, comet, or moon, this model could contribute to the interpretation of the distribution of fields and particles.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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References

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