Deimos: An Obstacle to the Solar Wind
K. Sauer 1,
E. Dubinin 2,
K. Baumgärtel 1, and
A. Bogdanov 1
1 Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Außenstelle, Rudower Chausse 5, 12489, Berlin, Germany
2 Space Research Institute, Profsojuznaja Street 84/32, 117810 Moscow, Russia
Two isolated solar wind disturbances about 5 minutes in duration were detected aboard the Russian spacecraft Phobos-2 upon its crossing the wake of the martian moon Deimos about 15,000 kilometers downstream from the moon on 1 February 1989. These plasma and magnetic events are interpreted as the inbound and outbound crossings of a Mach cone that is formed as a result of an effective interaction of the solar wind with Deimos. Possible mechanisms such as remanent magnetization, cometary type interaction caused by heavy ion or charged dust production, and unipolar induction resulting from the finite conductivity of the body are discussed. Although none of the present models is fully satisfactory, neutral gas emission through water loss by Deimos at a rate of about 1023 molecules per second, combined with a charged dust coma, is favored.
Submitted on March 6, 1995
Accepted on July 6, 1995
