Mercury's magnetic field in the MESSENGER era

TL;DR

Mercury's magnetic field is exceptionally weak with a unique geometry, likely caused by a stably stratified core layer and complex internal dynamics, challenging classical dynamo models.

Contribution

This paper reviews Mercury's magnetic field observations and proposes that a stably stratified core layer explains its unique magnetic geometry and weakness.

Findings

Mercury's magnetic field is weak and offset northward.

Classical dynamo models struggle to reproduce Mercury's magnetic features.

Stable stratification in the core may explain the magnetic field's characteristics.

Abstract

MESSENGER magnetometer data show that Mercury's magnetic field is not only exceptionally weak but also has a unique geometry. The internal field resembles an axial dipole that is offset to the North by 20% of the planetary radius. This implies that the axial quadrupol is particularly strong while the dipole tilt is likely below 0.8 degree. The close proximity to the sun in combination with the weak internal field results in a very small and highly dynamic Hermean magnetosphere. We review the current understanding of Mercury's internal and external magnetic field and discuss possible explanations. Classical convection driven core dynamos have a hard time to reproduce the observations. Strong quadrupol contributions can be promoted by different measures, but they always go along with a large dipole tilt and generally rather small scale fields. A stably stratified outer core region seems required to explain not only the particular geometry but also the weakness of the Hermean magnetic field. New interior models suggest that Mercury's core likely hosts an iron snow zone underneath the core-mantle boundary. The positive radial sulfur gradient likely to develop in such a zone would indeed promote stable stratification. However, even dynamo models that include the stable layer show Mercury-like magnetic fields only for a fraction of the total simulation time. Large scale variations in the core-mantle boundary heat flux promise to yield more persistent results but are not compatible with the current understanding of Mercury's lower mantle.