Solar Wind Charge Exchange X-ray emission from Mercury’s exosphere: Detectability with Bepi Colombo’s MIXS spectrometer

Abstract : We have conducted preliminary hybrid simulations to calculate the Solar Wind Charge Exchange (SWCX) X-ray emission in Mercury’s exosphere. Our results imply that the OVII triplet emission intensity for standard slow solar wind conditions is of the same order as the one predicted by simulations for Mars and measured by Chandra in past observations of Mars. Using an oversimplified detector and observation geometry we explore the detectability of Mercury's SWCX emission by the MIXS spectrometer on board Bepi Colombo’s planetary orbiter (MPO).