Electric charging of dust particles: Impact on the variations of electric field and electric resistivity of air

Elena Seran (1) , Alexander Zakharov (2) , Michel Godefroy (1) , Gennady Dolnikov (2)

1 HELIOS - LATMOS
2 IKI - Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Short Dipole Antenna is proposed in the frame of the Dust Package onboard the ROSCOSMOS- ESA ExoMars Lander. The SDA is developed to measure the electric field from few μV m^-1 to few tens kV m^-1 in the frequency range form DC to few kHz. The SDA concept and the model of its electric coupling with the air were tested and justified in the Nevada desert, in the conditions of dust devils generation. We illustrate our presentation with few examples of earth's observations, present simple models that explain the measured electric field and its correlation with the electric charge of the dust/sand particles, their density and motion. Comparative analysis between Earth and Mars cases is discussed.

Domaines: Physique Atmosphérique et Océanique [physics.ao-ph]

Elena Seran, Alexander Zakharov, Michel Godefroy, Gennady Dolnikov. Electric charging of dust particles: Impact on the variations of electric field and electric resistivity of air. 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Aug 2014, Moscow, Russia. pp.Abstract B0.2-40-14. ⟨hal-01133984⟩