Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Faculty
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Giovanni Bacon: Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Giovanni Bacon
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Edwin Mierkiewicz
Abstract
Understanding the role solar wind (SW) ions play on surface sputtering of Mercury is critical to any exosphere model. The most common models use binary collision approximation (BCA) tools such as SDTrimSP. However, this state-of-the-art tool has many user-specific inputs and that are not immediately clear for more complex substrates such as minerals on celestial surfaces. These include surface binding energies, SW compositions, static vs. dynamic, and impact energy. Previous research has not kept these parameters consistent, making it unclear how sensitive sputtering behavior is to these parameters. As such, we have conducted a detailed sensitivity study into SDTrimSP parameters for simulating SW impacts. We have considered how several important simulation choices affect sputtering yields, composition, energy distribution, and damage. Results show that sputtering behavior is highly dependent on these parameters and can be used to establish a best practice methodology for SDTrimSP.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
SDTrimSP Simulations of Solar Wind Sputtering on Mercury: A Sensitivity Study to Establish a Best-Practice
Understanding the role solar wind (SW) ions play on surface sputtering of Mercury is critical to any exosphere model. The most common models use binary collision approximation (BCA) tools such as SDTrimSP. However, this state-of-the-art tool has many user-specific inputs and that are not immediately clear for more complex substrates such as minerals on celestial surfaces. These include surface binding energies, SW compositions, static vs. dynamic, and impact energy. Previous research has not kept these parameters consistent, making it unclear how sensitive sputtering behavior is to these parameters. As such, we have conducted a detailed sensitivity study into SDTrimSP parameters for simulating SW impacts. We have considered how several important simulation choices affect sputtering yields, composition, energy distribution, and damage. Results show that sputtering behavior is highly dependent on these parameters and can be used to establish a best practice methodology for SDTrimSP.