Atmospheric electrification in dusty, reactive gases in the solar system and beyond

Helling, C., Harrison, R. G., Honary, F., Diver, D. A. , Aplin, K., Dobbs-Dixon, I., Ebert, U., Inutsuka, S.-i., Gordillo-Vazquez, F. J. and Littlefair, S. (2016) Atmospheric electrification in dusty, reactive gases in the solar system and beyond. Surveys in Geophysics, 37(4), pp. 705-756. (doi: 10.1007/s10712-016-9361-7)

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Abstract

Detailed observations of the solar system planets reveal a wide variety of local atmospheric conditions. Astronomical observations have revealed a variety of extrasolar planets none of which resembles any of the solar system planets in full. Instead, the most massive amongst the extrasolar planets, the gas giants, appear very similar to the class of (young) brown dwarfs which are amongst the oldest objects in the Universe. Despite this diversity, solar system planets, extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs have broadly similar global temperatures between 300 and 2500 K. In consequence, clouds of different chemical species form in their atmospheres. While the details of these clouds differ, the fundamental physical processes are the same. Further to this, all these objects were observed to produce radio and X-ray emissions. While both kinds of radiation are well studied on Earth and to a lesser extent on the solar system planets, the occurrence of emissions that potentially originate from accelerated electrons on brown dwarfs, extrasolar planets and protoplanetary disks is not well understood yet. This paper offers an interdisciplinary view on electrification processes and their feedback on their hosting environment in meteorology, volcanology, planetology and research on extrasolar planets and planet formation.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Diver, Professor Declan
Authors: Helling, C., Harrison, R. G., Honary, F., Diver, D. A., Aplin, K., Dobbs-Dixon, I., Ebert, U., Inutsuka, S.-i., Gordillo-Vazquez, F. J., and Littlefair, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Surveys in Geophysics
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:0169-3298
ISSN (Online):1573-095
Published Online:26 April 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Surveys in Geophysics : 37(4): 705-756
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
604241Microplasma-assisted manipulation of intact arborne bacteria for a real-time and automonous detector.Declan DiverEngineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/K006142/1P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY