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3-D Fully Kinetic Particle-in-Cell Simulations of Small Asteroid Charging in the Solar Wind.
- Source :
-
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science . Aug2019, Vol. 47 Issue 8, p3682-3688. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- This paper presents a 3-D, fully kinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation study of plasma charging for small, irregularly shaped, composite asteroids in the solar wind. Three types of asteroid internal structures are considered: 1) a homogeneous composition of regolith; 2) a single hard rock; and 3) a composite of hard rock core covered with a regolith outer layer. The simulation model resolves the plasma flow field, asteroid surface differential charging, and asteroid internal electric field self-consistently. The results show that while the ambient plasma condition and surface property determine surface charging, the internal composition substantially affects the subsurface electric field inside an asteroid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00933813
- Volume :
- 47
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 138462920
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2019.2919895