Hostname: page-component-74656f9884-j7cmm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-08T10:57:40.336Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Analytical research on the possibility of long orbital existence of submicron particles in the Earth’s plasmasphere by the methods of the KAM theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2017

A. B. Yakovlev*
Affiliation:
Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia
E. K. Kolesnikov
Affiliation:
Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia
S. V. Chernov
Affiliation:
Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia
*
†Email address for correspondence: a.b.yakovlev@spbu.ru
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Particles which move in the magnetosphere’s plasma gain an electric charge which depends on the density and temperature of the plasma and the sunlight stream. If motion is slow enough, it is possible to consider that the micro-particle’s electric charge is in quasi-equilibrium. For certain conditions, the Hamilton function can be written for the problem with a variable electric charge and, hence, the methods of the analysis of systems of Hamilton equations can be applied for research of such micro-particle motion. Although these conditions are strong enough, they correspond to the statement of many real problems. The spatial distribution of plasma in the Earth’s plasmasphere is described by a model of a two-component plasma. In the present paper, the capability of propagation of results which were received earlier for a case of the motion of a quasi-equilibrium electric charge in the Earth plasmasphere has been shown. The received result shows that there is an opportunity for long orbital holding (not less than one month) of micro-particles of space dust in the Earth’s plasmasphere.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2017 
Figure 0

Figure 1. The time dependence of the local equilibrium potential of a micro-particle. Initial conditions and carbon micro-particle radius are the same as in figure 3.

Figure 1

Figure 2. The dependences of current values of micro-particle accelerations (in non-dimensional units) under the influence of various disturbed forces on time. 1 – acceleration due to the force of the central gravitational field, 2 – acceleration due to the Lorentz force from the dipole magnetic field of the Earth, 3 – acceleration due to the Lorentz force from the electric field of co-rotation, 4 – acceleration due to sunlight pressure. The dimensionless accelerations are determined by (3.23). Initial conditions and carbon micro-particle radius are the same as in figure 3.

Figure 2

Figure 3. Dependence of the semi-major axis of an orbit for a carbon micro-particle with radius 33 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 9000 km, an eccentricity of 0.145, an angle of inclination of $30^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of equilibrium charge of the micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined at every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and the micro-particle’s charging.

Figure 3

Figure 4. Dependence of the angle of inclination of an orbit on the plane of the magnetic equator for a carbon micro-particle with radius 33 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 9000 km, an eccentricity of 0.145, an angle of inclination of $30^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$.

Figure 4

Figure 5. Dependence of the eccentricity of an orbit for a carbon micro-particle with radius 33 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 9000 km, an eccentricity of 0.145, an angle of inclination of $30^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of equilibrium charge of the micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined on every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and micro-particle’s charging.

Figure 5

Figure 6. Dependence of the angle of inclination of an orbit to the plane of the magnetic equator for a carbon micro-particle with radius 33 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 9000 km, an eccentricity of 0.145, an angle of inclination of $30^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of equilibrium charge of micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for the general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined at every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and micro-particle’s charging.

Figure 6

Figure 7. Dependence of the semi-major axis of an orbit for a carbon micro-particle with radius 27 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 10 000 km, an eccentricity of 0.1, an angle of inclination of $40^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of equilibrium charge of micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for the general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined at every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and micro-particle’s charging.

Figure 7

Figure 8. Dependence of the eccentricity of an orbit for a carbon micro-particle with radius 27 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 10 000 km, an eccentricity of 0.1, an angle of inclination of $40^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of equilibrium charge of micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined at every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and micro-particle’s charging.

Figure 8

Figure 9. Dependence of the angle of inclination of an orbit to the plane of the magnetic equator for a carbon micro-particle with radius 27 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 10 000 km, an eccentricity of 0.1, an angle of inclination of $40^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of an equilibrium charge of the micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for the general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined at every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and micro-particle’s charging.

Figure 9

Figure 10. Dependence of the semi-major axis of an orbit for a carbon micro-particle with radius 27 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 15 000 km, an eccentricity of 0, an angle of inclination of $35^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of equilibrium charge of a micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for the general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined at every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and micro-particle’s charging.

Figure 10

Figure 11. Dependence of the eccentricity of an orbit for a carbon micro-particle with radius 27 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 15 000 km, an eccentricity of 0, an angle of inclination of $35^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of an equilibrium charge of the micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for the general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined at every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and micro-particle’s charging.

Figure 11

Figure 12. Dependence of the angle of inclination of an orbit to the plane of the magnetic equator for a carbon micro-particle with radius 27 nanometres on time. Initial conditions correspond to an orbit of a particle without a charge with a perigee altitude of 15 000 km, an eccentricity of 0, an angle of inclination of $35^{\circ }$, a longitude of ascending node of $180^{\circ }$ and ascending node-perigee angle of $270^{\circ }$. Solid line for the case of an equilibrium charge of the micro-particle and two acting forces. Dashed line for the general case of 7 forces and a charge which is determined at every step of numerical integration of the system of equations of motion and micro-particle’s charging.