Numerical modelling of ENAs from stellar wind interactions

• Main Author: Ekenbäck, Andreas
• Format: Doctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Institutet för rymdfysik (IRF) 2008
• Subjects: Space physics; Space technology; Astrophysics; Space engineering; Rymdteknik
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-1804; http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:isbn:978-91-977255-5-2

Energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) are produced whenever a stellar wind encounters a neutral atmosphere. If a stellar wind proton comes sufficiently close to a neutral a charge-exchange reaction may take place, transforming the proton into an ENA. Unaffected by magnetic and electric fields, ENAs provide an opportunity for global imaging of stellar wind interactions. This thesis presents methods and results of numerical modelling of stellar wind interactions. In particular it treats in depth production of ENAs at comets, Mars and the extrasolar planet HD 209458b. Sufficiently accurate numerical models of stellar wind interactions require extensive computations. Parallel computing has therefore been used throughout the work, both for fluid and particle simulations of space plasmas. This thesis describes the use of a general simulation tool, providing parallel computing for space plasma simulations. The thesis presents estimations of the magnitude and morphology of the ENA production at comets and HD 209458b. It compares the results obtained with observations and analyzes them in the light of ENA production at similar objects. Also, simulated ENA images for Mars were produced and compared to observations.