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A Magnetized, Moon-forming Giant Impact

  • Authors: P. D. Mullen, and C. F. Gammie

2020 The Astrophysical Journal Letters 903 L15.

  • Provider: AAS Journals

Caption: Figure 2.

Logarithmic density distribution of the protolunar disk midplane with overplotted lines corresponding to the x- and y-components of the magnetic field for a B0 ≃ 1 kG, Δx ≃ 175 km magnetized giant impact simulation. (a) Quasi-equilibrium protolunar disk, ∼140 hr post-impact, hosting a mainly toroidal magnetic field. (b) The onset of the MRI, ∼174 hr post-impact. (c) The peak of the dimensionless α parameter around R ≃ 3R, ∼190 hr post-impact. (d) Full MHD turbulence in the protolunar disk, ∼220 hr post-impact.

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