Photodetachment and test-particle simulation constraints on negative ions in solar system plasmas
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Desai, Ravindra
Zhang, Zeqi
Wu, Xinni
Lue, Charles
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Negative ions have been detected in abundance in recent years by spacecraft across the solar system. These detections were, however, made by instruments not designed for this purpose and, as such, significant uncertainties remain regarding the prevalence of these unexpected plasma components. In this article, the phenomenon of photodetachment is examined, and experimentally and theoretically derived cross-sections are used to calculate photodetachment rates for a range of atomic and molecular negative ions subjected to the solar photon spectrum. These rates are applied to negative ions outflowing from Europa, Enceladus, Titan, Dione, and Rhea and their trajectories are traced to constrain source production rates and the extent to which negative ions are able to pervade the surrounding space environments. Predictions are also made for further negative ion populations in the outer solar system with Triton used as an illustrative example. This study demonstrates how, at increased heliocentric distances, negative ions can form stable ambient plasma populations and can be exploited by future missions to the outer solar system.
Date Issued
2021-05-17
Date Acceptance
2021-04-05
Citation
The Planetary Science Journal, 2021, 2 (3)
ISSN
2632-3338
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
The Planetary Science Journal
Volume
2
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2021. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
License URL
Sponsor
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Grant Number
NE/P017347/1
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 99