Science - Bepicolombo YSSG-CS
Schematic diagram of the cruise science case studies as related to the instrument devoted for the investigation and to possible multi-spacecraft measurements.
Adapted from Mangano et al., Space Sci. Rev., 2021.
| CRUISE science | What should be measured | Instrument | When? Necessary constellation? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-scale solar wind turbulence: how they evolve with radial distance | B field, high-res (min – sec – or less) | MPO-MAG | radial alignment, behind shock waves, within planetary magnetic sheats |
| Small-scale solar wind structures: magnetic holes, what is their relation to mirror mode waves | B field, high-res (min – sec – or less) | MPO-MAG | behind shock waves, within planetary magnetic sheats |
| Large-scale solar wind structures: transient CMEs, ICMEs properties and evolution, interaction of multiple CMEs, CME+SIR interaction | B field, 5-min – hourly | MPO-MAG (particle detector of MMO-MPPE is NOT directly exposed to solar wind), SIXS-P | radial alignment |
| SEPs: acceleration | fluxes of energetic particles (energy spectrum, pitch angle distribution), magnetic field configuration | SIXS-P, MPO-MAG, BERM | radial alignment + widely separated longitudes, close to shock waves |
| SEPs: transport (cross-field diffusion?) | fluxes of energetic particles (energy spectrum, pitch angle distribution), magnetic field configuration | SIXS-P, MPO-MAG, BERM | alignment along Parker spiral + widely separated field lines |
| Large-scale solar wind structures: background solar wind, CIRs – radial evolution, backmapping | fluxes of energetic particles (energy spectrum, pitch angle distribution), B-field, 5-min – hourly | MPO-MAG, SIXS-P | radial alignment |
| CIRs – magnetic sector boundaries | fluxes of energetic particles (energy spectrum, pitch angle distribution), B-field, 5-min – hourly | MPO-MAG, SIXS-P | same Parker field line |
| CIRs – 3d evolution | fluxes of energetic particles (energy spectrum, pitch angle distribution), B-field, 5-min – hourly | MPO-MAG, SIXS-P | latitudinal separation |
| Comets – water production rates in the hydrogen coma (+OH) – Panstarss | EUV (Lyman-alpha) + FUV | PHEBUS | IMEX will calculate when each target intersects PHEBUS FOV |
| Comets – particles in the cometary trails | UV, dust impact flux | PHEBUS, MMO-MDM | constantly |
| Dust – interplanetary dust distribution in the inner solar system | dust impact flux within the MDM FOV | MMO-MDM (surrounded by MOSIF, but detection possible through MOSIF aperture) | constantly |
| Solar corona studies – density fluctuations, velocity of SW | radio occultation measurements, TEC | MORE | BC + Akatsuki, occultation |
| General relativity tests | time delay of radio signals | MORE | superior conjunction |
| Galactic Cosmic Rays | MCS emission due to bombardment (local radiation background) | MGNS, SIXS-P | constantly |
| Gamma-ray bursts: localize the sources | flux density | MNGS | constantly |
| Gamma-ray of solar flares | flux density | MNGS | constantly |