Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
12:59
A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: January 8, 2016
Statistical Study of Mercury's Energetic Electron Events as Observed by the Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer
Romina Nikoukar1, David J Lawrence1, Patrick N Peplowski1
1Applied Physics Laboratory Johns Hopkins University Laurel MD USA.
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
|September 1, 2018
Summary
Mercury
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Space Physics
- Plasma Physics
Background:
- Energetic electron (EE) events are crucial for understanding space weather and plasma dynamics.
- The MESSENGER spacecraft provided unique in-situ observations of Mercury's magnetosphere.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the anisotropic behavior of energetic electron events at Mercury.
- Characterize different classes of energetic electrons observed by MESSENGER.
Main Methods:
- Statistical analysis of energetic electron event data from MESSENGER's Neutron Spectrometer (NS) and Gamma-ray Spectrometer Anticoincidence Shield (ACS).
- Comparison of signal intensities and spatial distributions between NS and ACS observations.
Main Results:
- Two distinct classes of energetic electrons were identified: "Standard" (over 90% of events) and "ACS-enhanced" (less than 10% of events).
- "Standard" events exhibit isotropic pitch angle distributions and are confined to specific magnetospheric regions.
- "ACS-enhanced" events show beam-like distributions, are observed more broadly, and have significantly higher signal intensities in the ACS compared to the NS.
Conclusions:
- The distinct characteristics of Standard and ACS-enhanced energetic electron events suggest different underlying acceleration mechanisms.
- These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of particle acceleration processes in Mercury's magnetosphere.
Related Concept Videos
02:39Emission Spectra
When solids, liquids, or condensed gases are heated sufficiently, they radiate some of the excess energy as light. Photons produced in this manner have a range of energies, and thereby produce a continuous spectrum in which an unbroken series of wavelengths is present.
01:16Mass Spectrometers
This lesson details the instrumentation of a mass spectrometer—a physical instrument to perform mass spectrometry on analyte molecules and record the characteristic mass spectra. This is achieved via three chief functions:
01:07Scanning Electron Microscopy
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to study the surface features of a sample by using an electron beam that scans the sample surface in a two-dimensional manner. Typically, areas between ~1 centimeter to 5 micrometers in width can be imaged. SEM can be used to image bacteria, viruses, tissues as well as larger samples like insects. Conventional SEM gives a magnification ranging from 20X to 30,000X and spatial resolution of 50 to 100 nanometers.
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
01:23Magnetic Moment of an Electron
Electrons revolving around a nucleus are analogous to a circular current carrying loop. This current produces a magnetic dipole moment proportional to the electron's orbital angular momentum. Since the orbital angular momentum is quantized in terms of the reduced Planck's constant, the dipole moment is quantized in the Bohr Magneton. The value of the Bohr magneton is 9.27 x 10-24 Am2. Electrons also have an intrinsic spin angular momentum, and the associated spin magnetic moment is...
01:19Thomson's e/m Experiment
In a beam of charged particles created by a heated cathode, the particles move at different speeds. However, many applications need a beam with uniform particle speeds. An arrangement known as a velocity selector uses electric and magnetic fields to pick particles with a particular speed from the beam.
A particle with charge q, speed v, and mass m enters an area from the top, where the magnetic and electric fields are perpendicular both to the particle's motion and to one another. The magnetic...
A particle with charge q, speed v, and mass m enters an area from the top, where the magnetic and electric fields are perpendicular both to the particle's motion and to one another. The magnetic...
01:22Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
The instrumentation of atomic emission spectrometry (AES) involves various components, including atomization devices that convert samples into gas-phase atoms and ions. There are two main types of atomization devices: continuous and discrete atomizers. Continuous atomizers, like plasmas and flames, introduce samples in a constant stream, while discrete atomizers inject individual samples using syringes or autosamplers. The most common discrete atomizer is the electrothermal atomizer.