Charge exchange x-ray emission in the near-earth environment: Simulations in preparation for the smile magnetospheric mission

Abstract : Solar Wind Charge exchange X-ray (SWCX) imaging of the Earth’s magnetosheath will be the target of the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), a joined ESA-CAS mission. The mission aims to study the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling through simultaneous X-ray and UV imaging and in situ plasma and magnetic field measurements. We present simulations of the SWCX emission produced in the Earth’s magnetosheath, developped in the framework of the Modeling Working Group (MWG, https://smile.alaska.edu/) which provides modeling support for the SMILE mission. The goal of the current study is to extend the application of a Test Particle model to input electric and magnetic fields from MHD simulations, and compare the X-ray emissivity maps to the ones from a pure MHD approach.