Journal article
Electron Energization by Ion Density Enhancement in the Martian Magnetotail—MAVEN Observations
The Astrophysical journal, Vol.975(2), 246
11/01/2024
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad863e
Abstract
It has been long observed at Mars that electron fluxes are enhanced during the tail current sheet crossings, of which the cause is not well understood. We use a novel approach to reveal one of the electron energization mechanisms with observations from the Mars Atmospheric and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission. We find the field-aligned potential, derived from comparing electron distribution functions, to be approximately linearly correlated with the logarithmic values of the local total ion density. This is the expected behavior of an ambipolar electrostatic potential. The large amplitude of potential (tens to hundreds of V) is a result of both a significant density gradient (1 order of magnitude) and the high electron temperature (tens of eV) in the tail. Such a mechanism is not limited to ion density enhancements at current sheet crossings but can be present anywhere that large ion density gradients and hot electrons are present.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Electron Energization by Ion Density Enhancement in the Martian Magnetotail—MAVEN Observations
- Creators
- Shaosui Xu - University of California, BerkeleyDavid L. Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyJasper S Halekas - University of IowaJames McFadden - University of California, BerkeleyChristopher Fowler - West Virginia UniversityKathleen Hanley - University of California, BerkeleyGina DiBraccio - Goddard Space Flight CenterChristian Mazelle - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et PlanétologieHassan Akbari - Goddard Space Flight CenterShannon Curry - University of California, Berkeley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Astrophysical journal, Vol.975(2), 246
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing
- DOI
- 10.3847/1538-4357/ad863e
- ISSN
- 0004-637X
- eISSN
- 1538-4357
- Grant note
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)https://doi.org/10.13039/100000104: NNH10CC04C National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)NASA through the Mars Exploration ProgramFrench space agency National Centre for Space Studies (CNES): 80NSSC22K1076 NASA's Mars Data Analysis Program
This work was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant NNH10CC04C to the University of Colorado and by subcontract to Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley. The MAVEN project is supported by NASA through the Mars Exploration Program. Parts of this work for the observations obtained with the SWEA instrument are supported by the French space agency National Centre for Space Studies (CNES). S.X., C.F., and H.A. also thank support from NASA's Mars Data Analysis Program, grant 80NSSC22K1076.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/01/2024
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984742655202771
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