A model of impulsive acceleration and transport of energetic particles in Mercury's magnetosphere

Abstract

A qualitative model of substorm processes in the Mercury magnetosphere is presented based on Mariner 10 observations obtained in 1974–1975. The model is predicated on close analogies observed with the terrestrial case. Particular emphasis is given to energetic particle phenomena as observed by Mariner on March 29, 1974. We support the suggestion that energetic particles up to ∼500 keV are produced by strong induced electric fields at 3 ∼ 6 R M in the Hermean tail in association with substorm neutral line formation. The bursts of energetic particles produced are, in this model, subsequently confined on closed field lines near Mercury and drift adiabatically on quasi‐trapped orbits for many tens of seconds. Such gradient and curvature drift of the particles can explain prominent periodicities of 5–10 s seen in the Mariner > 170‐keV electron flux profiles.