Abstract Previous theoretical studies of the solar wind interaction with Venus have generally involved gas dynamic models of flow past the impenetrable ionopause obstacle. However, because these studies neglected the effects of planetary ion production or mass-loading in the magnetosheath, they did not accurately reproduce certain observed features such as the position of the bow shock. Recent numerical calculations include a source term in the gas dynamic equations to represent the photoionization of the hot atomic oxygen corona. These produce results which agree more closely with both the measured flared shape of the bow shock and properties of the magnetosheath plasma and magnetic field. The solar wind interaction with Mars is also expected to be affected by mass-loading. These findings emphasize the similarity between the unmagnetized planets and comets.
Mass-loading at Venus: Theoretical expectations
Advances in Space Research ; 6 , 1 ; 167-177
1986-01-01
11 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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