Possible calorimetric effects at mercury due to solar wind‐magnetosphere interactions

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Abstract
As a result of the solar wind interaction with the magnetosphere of Mercury, we expect several effects which may be observable with ground‐based and/or near‐earth radio and infrared telescopes: (1) there may be direct interaction of the solar wind with the surface of Mercury which could produce measurable heating effects; (2) substormlike magnetotail processes within Mercury's magnetosphere may precipitate particles carrying from 1010 to 1012 W (or more) of power into narrow latitudinal bands on the cold (≲ 130 K) darkside of Mercury, producing surface‐heated “auroral” zones; and (3) the presence of Jovian electrons within the inner Hermean magnetosphere may produce transient, very low frequency synchrotron‐emitting radiation belts. Hence remote radio and infrared observations hold substantial promise for providing information about the intrinsic properties of Mercury's magnetic field, about the planetary surface, and about the dynamical interaction of the Hermean magnetosphere with the solar wind at ∼0.4 AU.