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Ionospheric Plasma Transported Into the Martian Magnetosheath
- Source :
- Geophysical Research Letters, Vol 51, Iss 6, Pp n/a-n/a (2024)
- Publication Year :
- 2024
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 2024.
-
Abstract
- Abstract Heavy cold ions at Mars are gravitationally bound to the planet unless some process provides energy to them. Observations show that cold (1 cm−3) O+/O2+ ions with bulk velocities equal to energies ∼1 keV can reach deep into the nightside Martian magnetosheath. These ions are co‐located with a change of the sign of the sunward component of the magnetic field. This magnetic field topology implies the persistence of a localized planetary ions escape channel associated with draped magnetic field lines that are convecting tailward. The observed ion populations propagate approximately in the same direction as surrounding magnetosheath flow and are likely to be almost unheated ionospheric ions from low altitudes. The paper discusses planetary ion energization via Hall electric field originated from ions and electron separation associated with magnetic field curvature.
- Subjects :
- Mars
MAVEN
solar wind
atmospheric escape
Geophysics. Cosmic physics
QC801-809
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19448007 and 00948276
- Volume :
- 51
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.01667e2a25d4409587f66992d872b0a3
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL107953