Call for Papers: Special Issue of Earth, Planets and Space (EPS) “Comparative Studies of the Plasma at Non-magnetized Planets/Moons”

This special issue of EPS will be devoted to the theme of the 5th Alfvén conference on plasma interactions with non-magnetized planets/moons and their influence on planetary evolution.

During recent years many spacecraft missions have accumulated new observations at different unmagnetized planets and moons throughout the solar system (Venus Express, Mars Express, Mars Global Surveyor, Galileo for Jovian moons, Cassini for Saturnian moons, and Kaguya and Chandrayaan-1 for the Moon). While analysis of the spacecraft measurements are necessarily focused on individual bodies, there is a need to foster a critical comparison of recent measurements and simulations of plasma phenomena at unmagnetized objects throughout the solar system. Such comparison is essential in understanding the general physics behind the plasma environment in all the solar system objects, and is also essential for planning future missions.

We seek contributions pertaining to the plasma interaction with unmagnetized planets and moons in the solar system: Venus, Mars, Moon, Titan, and similar bodies. Submissions are encouraged on new findings from the analysis of spacecraft data, recent progress in theory and modeling, evolution of weakly-magnetized planets and moons under an active Sun, and comparisons of similar phenomena from different planets and moons.

All submitted papers will undergo a standard peer review process. Papers must be submitted to the EPS editorial office. Electronic submissions by e-mail to eps@terrapub.co.jp are encouraged, but authors who meet any difficulties with electronic submissions could submit a hard copy by post. For details, please visit the following web page:

The cover letter should mention “Submitted to the Special Issue: Comparative Studies of the Plasma at Non-magnetized Planets/Moons”. After papers are accepted, the authors will receive instructions for the final manuscript from the editorial office. The deadline for manuscript submissions is Monday, 31 January 2011. This special issue is expected to be published in September 2011.

For more information on this special issue, please contact the corresponding editor M. Yamauchi (M.Yamauchi@irf.se); questions on manuscript preparation should be addressed to the EPS editorial office.

Note: EPS accepts manuscripts of original research contributions only. No review papers will be accepted (sorry for this). Submitted content should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.