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Study on Lunar Surface Charging Effects Induced by Charged Particle Flows in the Earth’s Magnetotail Lobes and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Charged Lunar Dust
Online published: 2026-01-20
The Earth’s magnetotail tail lobes are extended structures formed by solar wind compression on the sunward side of the magnetosphere. These regions are filled with low-density, high-temperature rarefied plasma, whose particle spectrum and flow characteristics significantly differ from typical magnetospheric environments like the solar wind. When the Moon periodically traverses this region, the interaction between charged particle streams and the lunar surface triggers redistribution of surface charge and alters the spatial migration characteristics of near-surface lunar dust. Therefore, this study employs the Spacecraft Plasma Interaction System (SPIS) software to simulate lunar surface charging behavior induced by charged particle streams arriving at and departing from the lunar surface within the magnetotail lobe environment. It investigates the evolution of lunar surface potential, current, and the spatial distribution of charged lunar dust during the particle influx process. Results indicate: During the initial charging phase, high-speed electron streams reach the lunar surface first, causing the surface potential to rapidly drop to approximately −39.00 V. As the negative surface potential intensifies, charged lunar dust generated by collisions with the electron stream migrates outward due to electrostatic repulsion, causing the potential to gradually rebound and stabilize between −1.00~−20.00 V. During the steady-state phase, electron, ion, and dust currents achieve flux equilibrium. Charged dust primarily accumulates within 0~100 m above the lunar surface, forming a near-surface dust layer with a density of approximately 106 m−3.
Peng ZENG , Yushuang HE , Hongming YANG , Si LIU , Jiahao LI , Rui CHEN , Qing XIA . Study on Lunar Surface Charging Effects Induced by Charged Particle Flows in the Earth’s Magnetotail Lobes and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Charged Lunar Dust[J]. Journal of Space Science and Experiment, 2025 , 2(5) : 116 -124 . DOI: 10.19963/j.cnki.2097-4302.2025.05.009
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