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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Constraints on the nature of the ancient lunar magnetic field

Assuming that the physical properties of solar-wind ions have remained unchanged over the past 4 billion years, the observation of solar-wind ions in lunar breccias with compaction ages greater than 3.2 billion years places constraints on the nature and origin of the ancient lunar magnetic field. Solar-wind ions would not be expected to occur in old lunar breccias if a surface magnetic field of more than 0.03 gauss was present. Several explanations of this phenomenon are consistent with the global lunar dynamo theory of the origin of the lunar dipole field, including a wandering of the lunar dipole axis, late onset of dynamo action, and reversals of the lunar dipole field, producing a long-term field close to zero. Models invoking external field magnetization as the cause of the ancient lunar magnetic field constrain the dipole axis, precluding field reversals, and do not provide an alternative explanation for the observed occurrence of solar-wind ions in lunar breccias.

Goswami, J. N.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The magnetic field of Mercury

The Mariner 10 spacecraft encountered Mercury three times in 1974-1975. The first and third encounters provided detailed observations of a well-developed detached bow shock wave which results from the interaction of the solar wind. The planet possesses a global magnetic field and a modest magnetosphere, which deflects the solar wind. The field is approximately dipolar, with orientation in the same sense as earth, tilted 12 deg from the rotation axis. The magnetic moment corresponds to an undistorted equatorial field intensity of 350 gammas, approximately 1% of earth's. The field, while unequivocally intrinsic to the planet, may be due to remanent magnetization acquired from an extinct dynamo or a primordial magnetic field or due to a presently active dynamo. The latter possibility appears more plausible at present. In any case, the existence of the magnetic field provides very strong evidence of a mature differentiated planetary interior with a large core (core radius about 0.7 Mercury radius) and a record of the history of planetary formation in the magnetization of the crustal rocks.

Ness, N. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Magnetic field in the primitive solar nebula

Carbonaceous chondrites have apparently been magnetized in their early history in magnetic fields with intensities of 0.1 to 10 G, but the origin of the magnetizing field has remained obscured. It is suggested that the magnetic field recorded in the remanence of carbonaceous chondrites may have been produced by a self-excited hydromagnetic dynamo in the gaseous preplanetary nebula from which the solar system is thought to have formed. Recently computed models for the evolution of the preplanetary nebula, consisting of turbulent and differentially rotating gaseous disks with characteristic radial scales of several AU, are used to demonstrate the feasibility of this hypothesis. The maximum field intensity that might be realized by the dynamo production process is estimated to be as high as 1 to 10 G, taking into account two dynamical mechanisms that limit the strength of the field (the Coriolis force and ambipolar diffusion).

Levy, E. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The magnetic fields of Mercury, Mars, and moon

Mariner observations have shown a significant global magnetic field at Mercury with a dipole moment at a tilt of 14 + or - 5 deg relative to the normal of the orbit plane. A presently active dynamo is the most likely origin for the planet's magnetic field. Limited evidence for an intrinsic magnetic field on Mars was obtained by USSR spacecraft in 1971 and 1974. The Martian magnetic field, if it exists, may result from either remanent magnetism or an active dynamo. On the moon, local magnetic fields have been detected by the Apollo and Lunokhod missions, but no global correlation of the steady state values has been noted.

Ness, N. F.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The structure and the magnetic field of Uranus

The two-layer model of Uranus is recalculated using a rotation period of 24 rather than 10.8 hours and also the melting temperatures of H2O and of the constituents of the core are evaluated. It appears that the core is solid and the H2O-containing mantle is liquid. The conductivities of H2O, 'metallic' H2 and metallic H are roughly in the ratio of 1:100:10000 so that the convective velocities required for the operation of a dynamo would have to be about 10, 0.1 and 0.001 cm/sec, respectively. The very low thermal flux from Uranus suggests that, unless a precessional dynamo is invoked, metallically conducting H2 or metallic hydrogen has to be present in the mantle.

Torbett, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The magnetic fields of Mercury, Venus and Mars

Just as clearly as Mariner 10 established that Mercury has an intrinsic magnetic field, the Pioneer Venus orbiter has established that Venus has no significant intrinsic field. This is perhaps the opposite of what might be expected. Mercury, a small planet, might be expected to cool rapidly and its internal dynamo to cease, while Venus, which is almost as large as the earth, should not have lost much heat. On the contrary the source of energy of the Mercury dynamo appears to be extant whereas that of Venus appears to be extinct. The existence of a Martian magnetic field is controversial. No unambiguous signature of a Martian magnetic field has been reported. If the field on the nightside of Mars is of planetary rather than solar origin the Russian Mars spacecraft observations indicate the Martian dipole lies near the planetary equator rather than its pole.

Russell, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Energy coupling between the solar wind and the magnetosphere

A description is given of the path leading to the first approximation expression for the solar wind-magnetosphere energy coupling function (epsilon), which correlates well with the total energy consumption rate (U sub T) of the magnetosphere. It is shown that epsilon is the primary factor controlling the time development of magnetospheric substorms and storms. The finding of this particular expression epsilon indicates how the solar wind couples its energy to the magnetosphere; the solar wind and the magnetosphere make up a dynamo. In fact, the power generated by the dynamo can be identified as epsilon through the use of a dimensional analysis. In addition, the finding of epsilon suggests that the magnetosphere is closer to a directly driven system than to an unloading system which stores the generated energy before converting it to substorm and storm energies. The finding of epsilon and its implications is considered to have significantly advanced and improved the understanding of magnetospheric processes.

Akasofu, S.-I.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Jovimagnetic secular variation

Long term variations of a planetary magnetic field are one of the few observables available in the study of planetary interiors and dynamo theory. While variations of the geomagnetic field were accessible to direct measurement for centuries, knowledge of the secular variations of other planetary dynamos is limited. New limits on Jovimagnetic secular variations were found by comparison of a Jovian internal field model obtained from the Voyager 1 magnetic field observations at epoch 1979.2 with the epoch 1974.9 Pioneer 11 O4 model. No significant secular variation of either the magnitude or position of the Jovidipole is found for the years 1974.9 through 1979.2, although a small Earth-like variation cannot be ruled out.

Connerney, J. E. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Generation of Alfven waves by deceleration of magnetospheric convection and broadband Pi pulsations

The generation of Alfven waves by the deceleration of magnetospheric convection caused by ionospheric loading effects in the magnetospheric dynamo is considered. A one-dimensional model of that region of the plasma sheet where convection is decelerated due to the dynamo process in the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling is formulated, and the stability of the region is analyzed in order to derive the growth rate of unstable Alfven waves. The effects of ionospheric damping on unstable Alfven wave packets bounding between hemispheres are estimated. It is found that the overall growth rate is proportional to the height-integrated Pedersen conductivity and the convection speed in the dynamic region, but changes into a damping rate when the Pedersen conductivity is reduced below a specific threshold. The unstable Alfven waves thus generated are also found to contribute to both burstlike and relatively continuous Pi pulsations observed during substorms.

Kan, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Solar activity: The Sun as an X-ray star

The existence and constant activity of the Sun's outer atmosphere are thought to be due to the continual emergence of magnetic fields from the Solar interior and the stressing of these fields at or near the surface layers of the Sun. The structure and activity of the corona are thus symptomatic of the underlying magnetic dynamo and the existence of an outer turbulent convective zone on the Sun. A sufficient condition for the existence of coronal activity on other stars would be the existence of a magnetic dynamo and an outer convective zone. The theoretical relationship between magnetic fields and coronal activity can be tested by Solar observations, for which the individual loop structures can be resolved. A number of parameters however, which enter into the alternative theoretical formulations remain fixed in all Solar observations. To determine whether these are truly parameters of the theory observations need to be extended to nearby stars on which suitable conditions may occur.

Golub, L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Interaction between a magnetized plasma flow and a strongly magnetized celestial body with an ionized atmosphere - Energetics of the magnetosphere

Findings on the interaction between a magnetized plasma flow and a strongly magnetized celestial body are described, emphasizing the energetics of the magnetosphere and some astrophysical implications. It is shown that the interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere constitutes a dynamo whose power is modulated by the magnetized plasma flow. The varying with time of the flow speed, the magnetic field magnitude, and the latter's orientation are studied along with the reasons for the variation. The mode of dissipation of the generated power in the magnetosphere is investigated. As a preliminary, the basic solar wind conditions in the heliosphere are analyzed. It is shown how a flare-generated disturbance propagates in the heliosphere and how the dynamo power is modulated as the solar wind disturbance collides with the magnetosphere. The origin of geomagnetic storms and auroral phenomena in the dissipation of power in the magnetosphere is detailed.

Akasofu, S.-I.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Planetary magnetic fields

Observations of planetary magnetic fields are synthesized with current knowledge of the composition and evolution of planets and the sources of planetary magnetism. The observations for earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Venus, the moon, Mars, and small bodies and meteorites are summarized. The evolution and structure of the terrestrial planets, of Jupiter and Saturn, and of Uranus and Neptune are discussed in detail. Possible sources of planetary magnetism are discussed, and estimates are established which are sufficient in most cases to identify whether an observed field is likely to be the consequence of dynamo generation. Predictions of the existence or nonexistence of dynamos are offered for each large planet or satellite in the solar system.

Stevenson, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Paleomagnetism of the moon and meteorites

Paleomagnetic investigations (1979-1982) of the nature of the magnetization process and the magnetizing fields which produced magnetization in lunar and meteoritic materials are surveyed. Natural remanence magnetization (NRM), as well as thermoremanence magnetization (TRM), have been measured in carbonaceous chondrites and and L-chondrites to characterize the formation processes occurring when the magnetization was induced. Chemical remanence magnetism, together with the NRM, has been examined in noncarbonaceous chondrites, and NRM intensity and locations have been probed in achondrites. The magnetism has been concluded to arise either from solar magnetic fields, solar nebula magnetic fields, dynamo magnetic fields in the meteorite parent bodies, or locally generated fields caused by processes such as impacts. Lunar samples with NRM have been dated to origins less than 3.6 b.y., and could have been caused by shocks, such as from impacts less than 3 m.y. ago. Discussions of TRM, dynamo, and possible transient magnetic fields from hypervelocity meteoroid impacts as origins of magnetism on the surface and in a lunar magnetic core are presented.

Hood, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A convective model for turbulent mixing in rotating convection zones

The effects of rotation are included in an analytical model for the convective motions in a plane-parallel layer of an ideal fluid. The turbulent stress tensor, formed by taking products and averages of the various velocity components, is calculated for an arbitrary eddy size and shape. Heuristic formulae presented for determining the size and shape of the dominant eddy then give a fully specified stress tensor. Applications for this stress tensor in problems of stellar internal dynamics, heat flow, scalar diffusion, and dynamo theory are suggested. The resultant stresses tend to produce differential rotation profiles with rapidly rotating equators and interiors. The dynamo activity associated with these convective motions tends to occur near the lower boundary of the convection zone.

Hathaway, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

On the stellar rotation-activity connection

The relationship between rotation rates and surface activity in late-type dwarf stars is explored in a survey of recent theoretical and observational studies. Current theoretical models of stellar-magnetic-field production and coronal activity are examined, including linear kinematic dynamo theory, nonlinear dynamos using approximations, and full numerical simulations of the MHD equations; and some typical results are presented graphically. The limitations of the modeling procedures and the constraints imposed by the physics are indicated. The statistical techniques used in establishing correlations between various observational parameters are analyzed critically, and the methods developed for quasar luminosity functions by Avni et al. (1980) are used to evaluate the effects of upper detection bounds, incomplete samples, and missing data for the case of rotation and X-ray flux data.

Rosner, R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Lunar magnetic history

The origin of the lunar magnetic field remains a mystery. None of the various speculations are convincing. Suggestions of an early solar system field are not consistent with the low magnetization of the oldest samples. Models based upon a close approach of the Moon to the Earth have to account for the 300 M.Y. approach. Lunar dynamo models must explain why this dynamo which must operate in so small a core can operate so efficiently. It is concluded that it is now hard to escape from the idea that there was a relatively strong ancient lunar field between 3.9 and 3.6 B.Y. Moreover it is curious that the existence of this field coincided with the termination of the heavy bombardment of the Moon and mare basalt extrusion.

Cisowski, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Forecast of an exceptionally large even-numbered solar cycle

Using the 'dynamo theory' method to predict solar activity, an accurate prediction was made for solar cycle 21 by Schatten et al. (1978). Using the same dynamo technique for solar cycle 22, a value for the smoothed sunspot number of 170 + or - 25 is obtained. This large sunspot number is expected to peak in 1990 + or - 1 year. The F(10.7) radio flux is expected to reach a smoothed value of 210 + or - 25 flux units. Since this value is larger than values obtained with prediction schemes based upon 'statistical' and 'periodicity' methods, it provides a useful test for the current methodology, based upon the strength of the sun's polar field near solar minimum. The predicted degree of solar activity is expected to enhance the density and temperature of the earth's thermosphere to values somewhat larger than those found in solar cycle 21. This will have an impact on the orbital lifetime of low altitude satellites.

Schatten, Kenneth H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Spectral evolution in black hole accretion powered AGN and the cosmic X-ray background

If AGN contain supermassive black holes of pregalactic origin, then the radiation emitted during their lifetime will undergo spectral evolution. For AGN black-hole-accretion disk dynamo power sources, the dynamic parameters relevant to spectral evolution are the electron crossing time in the dynamo, the electron radiative loss time, the compactness parameter, and the photon-photon pair production optical depth. It is suggested that both spectral and luminosity evolution may be required to explain the evolutionary properties of AGN.

Leiter, D.↗