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Accelerated Planetary Ions
Ionized atoms whose energy has been increased.
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Bow Shock
The wave that stands in front of a planet in the solar wind -
similar to a bow wave in front of a boat.
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Energetic Neutral
Atoms
ENAs are atoms with energies greater than the planetary escape
velocity. ENAs are produced by a charge-exchange process between
singly-charged ions and neutral gases of the exosphere/upper
atmosphere. Due to their neutrality, ENAs are decoupled
from the electromagnetic fields and propagate straight forward
like photons. Directional detection of the ENAs therefore
yield a global image of the interaction region.
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ENA Albedo
Energetic neutral atoms escaping from a planet.
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Energy Specta
The number of ions or electrons per unit of energy (eV), area
(cm2), solid angle (steradians) per unit time (sec).
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eV
Electron Volt.
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Exosphere
The outermost layer of a planetary atmosphere.
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In-Situ Plasma
A plasma is an ionized gas, i.e. atoms from which
an electron has been removed.
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Ionosphere
The ionized atmosphere of a planet.
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keV
1000 Electron Volts.
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Magnetosphere
The magnetic envelope of a magnetized planet.
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Phobos
The larger of the 2 Martian Moons.
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Shocked Solar Wind
The solar wind with reduced velocity after it has
encountered the bow shock of a planet.
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Solar Wind
The flowing, ionized gas from the sun.
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Spectrograph
A plasma analyzer which instantaneously measures an
energy spectra.
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Supersonic Solar Wind
A solar wind that has a velocity greater that Mach 1.
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