Audrey Schaufelberger

Extremely high reflection of solar wind protons as neutral hydrogen atoms from regolith in space

We report on measurements of extremely high reflection rates of solar wind particles from regolith-covered lunar surfaces. Measurements by the Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA) instrument on the Indian Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft in orbit around the Moon show that up to 20% of the impinging solar wind protons are reflected from the lunar surface back to space as neutral hydrogen atoms. This finding, generally applicable to regolith-covered atmosphereless bodies, invalidates the widely accepted assumption that regolith almost completely absorbs the impinging solar wind.

Protons in the near-lunar wake observed by the Sub-keV Atom Reflection Analyzer on board Chandrayaan-1

Significant proton fluxes were detected in the near wake region of the Moon by an ion mass spectrometer on board Chandrayaan-1. The energy of these nightside protons is slightly higher than the energy of the solar wind protons. The protons are detected close to the lunar equatorial plane at a

Empirical energy spectra of neutralized solar wind protons from the lunar regolith

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Interaction of the solar wind with them Moon: An overview on the results from the SARA experiment aboard Chandrayaan-1

solar zenith angle, i.e., ~50

Studying the Lunar—Solar Wind Interaction with the SARA Experiment aboard the Indian Lunar Mission Chandrayaan‐1

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The SUB-KEV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA) experiment aboard Chandrayaan-1 mission: instrument and observations

behind the terminator at a height of 100 km. The protons come from just above the local horizon, and move along the magnetic field in the solar wind reference frame. We compared the observed proton flux with the predictions from analytical models of an electrostatic plasma expansion into a vacuum. The observed velocity was higher than the velocity predicted by analytical models by a factor of 2 to 3. The simple analytical models cannot explain the observed ion dynamics along the magnetic field in the vicinity of the Moon.

First observation of a mini‐magnetosphere above a lunar magnetic anomaly using energetic neutral atoms

[1] We present an empirical model of the energy spectra for hydrogen energetic neutral atoms (ENA) backscattered from the lunar surface based on Chandrayaan-1 Energetic Neutral Atom (CENA) observations. The observed energy spectra of the backscattered ENAs are well reproduced by Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution functions. The backscatter fraction is constant and independent of any solar wind parameters and the impinging solar wind angle. The calculated backscatter fraction is 0.19, and the 25% and 75% percentiles are 0.16 and 0.21. The empirical parameters of the Maxwell-Boltzman distribution derived from the CENA imager have no correlations with the upstream solar wind parameters, except for a good correlation between the solar wind velocity and the temperature of the backscattered ENAs. These results suggest that the reflected ENAs have experienced several collisions during the interaction with the loose lunar grains, and are then released into space. The mathematical model of the energy spectra of the backscattered ENAs is expressed by a function of the solar wind flux and velocity, which can be used for future investigations of regolith-solar wind interaction.

Scattering function for energetic neutral hydrogen atoms off the lunar surface

The results from the Sub-keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA) experiment onboard Chandrayaan-1 have revealed several hitherto unknown and interesting aspects about the interaction of solar wind with the Moon. The SARA experiment had two sensors — CENA and SWIM. The Chandrayaan-1 energetic neutrals analyzer (CENA), detected energetic neutral atoms (ENAs), and the Solar Wind Monitor (SWIM) measured ions of solar wind origin. In this review, we summarize the observations made by the SARA experiment, which are: (1) substantial (~20%) and sustained backscattering of solar wind protons from lunar surface as energetic neutral hydrogen,1 (2) minimagnetosphere around magnetic anomalies on Moon using the backscattered ENAs,2 (3) reflection of solar wind protons from the Moon surface,3 (4) huge (~50%) deflection of solar wind protons over strong magnetic anomalies,4 and (5) presence of protons in the near-lunar plasma wake.5 These results have implications on the lunar plasma environment, implantation of solar wind hydrogen on lunar surface, and behavior of small scale magnetic anomalies on planetary bodies. The SARA observations suggest that similar processes may happen on other airless bodies covered with regolith in the solar system as well as in extra-solar system. This paper presents a review of the results obtained from the SARA observation.

Is hydrodynamic escape from Titan possible

The first Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan‐1 was launched on 22 October 2008. The Sub‐keV Atom Reflecting Analyzer (SARA) instrument onboard Chandrayaan‐1 consists of an energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging mass analyzer called CENA (Chandrayaan‐1 Energetic Neutrals Analyzer), and an ion‐mass analyzer called SWIM (Solar wind Monitor). CENA performed the first ever experiment to study the solar wind‐planetary surface interaction via detection of sputtered neutral atoms and neutralized backscattered solar wind protons in the energy range ∼0.01–3.0 keV. SWIM measures solar wind ions, magnetosheath and magnetotail ions, as well as ions scattered from lunar surface in the ∼0.01–15 keV energy range. The neutral atom sensor uses conversion of the incoming neutrals to positive ions, which are then analyzed via surface interaction technique. The ion mass analyzer is based on similar principle. This paper presents the SARA instrument and the first results obtained by the SWIM and CENA sensors. SARA observations sug...

Erratum to “Extremely high reflection of solar wind protons as neutral hydrogen atoms from regolith in space” [Planet. Space Sci. 57 (2009) 2132–2134]

SARA experiment aboard the first Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 had the objective to explore the solar wind-lunar interaction using energetic neutral atoms (ENA) from the lunar surface as diagnostic tool. SARA consisted of an ENA imaging mass analyzer CENA (Chandrayaan-1 Energetic Neutral Analyzer) and an ion mass analyser SWIM (Solar Wind Monitor), along with a digital processing unit (DPU) which commands and controls the sensors and provides the interface to the spacecraft. Both sensors have provided excellent observational data. CENA has observed ENAs from the lunar surface and found that ~20% of the incident solar wind ions get backscattered as ENAs from the lunar surface. This is contrary to the previous assumptions of almost complete absorption of solar wind by the lunar surface. The observation is relevant for other airless bodies in the solar system.