Lecture 14-15 Planetary magnetospheres.ppt

Lecture 14-15: Planetary magnetospheres Today’s topics: Planetary magnetic fields. Interaction of solar wind with solar system objects. Planetary magnetospheres. Planetary magnetism Conducting fluid in motion generates magnetic field. Earth’s liquid outer core is conducting fluid = free electrons are released from metals (Fe Ni) by friction and heat. Variations in the global magnetic field represent changes in fluid flow in the core. Defined magnetic field implies a planet has: A large, liquid core A core rich in metals A high rotation rate These three properties are required for a planet to generate an intrinsic magnetosphere. Planetary magnetism (cont) Earth: Satisfies all three. Earth is only terrestrial planet with a strong B-field. Moon: No B-field today. It has no core or it solidified and ceased convection. Mars: No B-field today. Core solidified. Venus: Molten layer, but has a slow, 243 day rotation period = too slow to generate field. Mercury: Rotation period 59 days, small B-field. Possibly due to large core, or magnetised crust, or loss of crust on impact. Jupiter: Has large B-field, due to large liquid, metallic core, which is rotating quickly. Pressure due to the solar wind Solar wind exerts magnetic and dynamic pressure on objects (comets, planets, etc. ) in the solar system. Magnetic pressure: PB = B2 / 2?0 Dynamic pressure: PD = 1/2 ? v2 Sun’s field is a dipole: B = BS / r3, where BS is the dipole moment at the equator. = PB = BS2 / 2 ?0 r6 The solar wind density ~r-2. As PB ~ r-6 and PD ~ r--2 = PDPB at large distances from the Sun. = only consider dynamic pressure of solar wind on objects. Parker spiral Solar wind propagates outward from the Sun carrying a magnetic field. Poduces an Archimedean spiral by “frozen-in” magnetic field being carried radially outward while the Sun continues to rotate. Charged particles, such as electrons and protons, propagate along the Parker spiral. Flares and CMEs that occur close to fiel