Overview of Moon-Magnetosphere Interactions

Moon-magnetosphere interaction refers to the interaction of magnetospheric plasma with a moon orbiting within the host planet's magnetosphere. Observations and modeling of moon-magnetosphere interactions is a highly interesting area of space physics because it helps to better understand the basic physics of plasma flows in the universe and provides geophysical information about the interior of the moons. Moon-magnetosphere interaction is caused by the flow of magnetospheric plasma relative to the orbital motions of the moons. The relative velocity is usually slower than the Alfven velocity of the plasma around the moons. Thus the interaction generally forms Alfven wings instead of bow shocks in front of the moons. The local interaction, i.e., the interaction within several moon radii, is controlled by properties of the atmospheres, ionospheres, surfaces, nearby dust populations, the interiors of the moons as well as the properties of the magnetospheric plasma around the moons. The far-field interaction, i.e., the interaction further away than a few moon radii, is dominated by the magnetospheric plasma and the fields but it still carries information about the properties of the moons. In this chapter the basic physics of moon-magnetosphere interaction is reviewed. We also give a short tour through the solar system highlighting the important findings at the major moons.

Automated summary

Moon-magnetosphere interaction refers to the interaction between a moon orbiting within a host planet's magnetosphere with the planet's magnetospheric plasma. This interaction helps in understanding the basic physics of plasma flows in the universe and provides geophysical information about the moons' interiors. The interaction is influenced by various factors both locally near the moon and further away in the magnetospheric plasma.