A 3D Physics?Based Particle Model of the Venus Oxygen Corona: Variations With Solar Activity

Due to Venus not having a substantial planetary magnetic field the fast-flowing solar wind plasma can propagate regions close planet. Therefore, thermal atomic oxygen in thermosphere, hot corona, and resulting pickup ions are essential for determining overall interaction of planet with ambient wind. To investigate this complex system, we have initiated project where combination Thermosphere General Circulation Model (VTGCM) Adaptive Mesh Particle Simulator (AMPS) codes used determine variability ”hot” O corona depending on conditions. Here present results modeling Venus' using VTGCM ionosphere/thermosphere AMPS kinetic particle models. produces self-consistent calculation thermosphere/ionosphere, providing spatial distributions dominant species. That is further AMPS’ exosphere (a) specify source newly created atoms produced by dissociative recombination (b) account thermalization these energetic as they upper thermosphere. The altitude distribution calculated maximum conditions agree well Pioneer Orbiter observations corona. that performed minimum indicates decrease density almost factor six compared at maximum. consistent non-detection from Express. As expected, moderate case between cases.