Methods of Mechanics for the Aaeronomy Problems

M. Ya. Marov


Abstract: Basic theoretical background and principal approaches to the modeling of rarefied gas envelopes of planets and comets focused on near-Earth space are discussed. The study in the field, referred to as aeronomics, is based on mechanics and incorporates both hydrodynamic and gas kinetic methods. The focus is given to the peculiarities of specific mechanical problems involved, such as the processes of photolisis and following chemical reactions due to direct absorption of the solar UV and X-ray radiation and non-equilibrium kinetics caused by this absorption, as well as the processes of heat and mass transfer in the multicomponent turbulent gas medium. Various approaches to the numerical evaluation of these problems, including stochastic simulation technique for kinetic equations solution were developed and applied to the modeling of many important aeronomical problems. Some examples are brought and the results obtained are discussed.