Observational evidence of ring current in the magnetosphere of Mercury

J.-T. Zhao, Q.-G. Zong (), C. Yue (), W.-J. Sun, H. Zhang, X.-Z. Zhou, G. Le, R. Rankin, J. A. Slavin, J. M. Raines, Y. Liu and Yi-Ming Wei
Additional contact information
J.-T. Zhao: Peking University
Q.-G. Zong: Peking University
C. Yue: Peking University
W.-J. Sun: University of Michigan
H. Zhang: University of Alaska Fairbanks
X.-Z. Zhou: Peking University
G. Le: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
R. Rankin: University of Alberta
J. A. Slavin: University of Michigan
J. M. Raines: University of Michigan
Y. Liu: Peking University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The magnetic gradient and curvature drift of energetic ions can form a longitudinal electric current around a planet known as the ring current, that has been observed in the intrinsic magnetospheres of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. However, there is still a lack of observational evidence of ring current in Mercury’s magnetosphere, which has a significantly weaker dipole magnetic field. Under such conditions, charged particles are thought to be efficiently lost through magnetopause shadowing and/or directly impact the planetary surface. Here, we present the observational evidence of Mercury’s ring current by analysing particle measurements from MErcury Surface, Space Environment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft. The ring current is bifurcated because of the dayside off-equatorial magnetic minima. Test-particle simulation with Mercury’s dynamic magnetospheric magnetic field model (KT17 model) validates this morphology. The ring current energy exceeds $$5\times {10}^{10}$$ 5 × 10 10 J during active times, indicating that magnetic storms may also occur on Mercury.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28521-3

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