Journal article
MAVEN observation of an obliquely propagating low‐frequency wave upstream of Mars
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.121(3), pp.2374-2389
03/2016
DOI: 10.1002/2015JA022306
Abstract
We report Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission observations of a large amplitude low‐frequency plasma wave that propagated oblique to the ambient magnetic field upstream of Mars along with a non‐solar‐wind plasma component that had a flow velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field. We consider nine possibilities for this wave that include various combinations of its propagation direction, polarization in the solar wind frame, and ion source responsible for its generation. Using the observed wave parameters and the measured plasma parameters as constraints, we uniquely identify the wave by systematically discarding these possibilities. We determine that the wave is a right‐hand polarized wave that propagated upstream in the solar wind frame. We find two possibilities for the ion source that can be responsible for this wave generation. They are either newly born pickup protons or reflected solar wind protons from the bow shock. We determine that the observed non‐solar‐wind component is not responsible for the wave generation, and it is likely that the non‐solar‐wind component was merely perturbed by the passage of the wave.
Key Points
MAVEN observes a large amplitude low‐frequency wave and a non‐solar‐wind component upstream of Mars
The wave is excited by newly born pickup protons or bow shock reflected solar wind protons
The non‐solar‐wind component does not generate the wave, but merely perturbed by it
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- MAVEN observation of an obliquely propagating low‐frequency wave upstream of Mars
- Creators
- Suranga Ruhunusiri - University of IowaJ. S Halekas - University of IowaJ. E. P Connerney - Goddard Space Flight CenterJ. R Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterJ. P McFadden - University of California, BerkeleyC Mazelle - Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST)D Brain - University of Colorado BoulderG Collinson - Goddard Space Flight CenterY Harada - University of California, BerkeleyD. E Larson - University of California, BerkeleyD. L Mitchell - University of California, BerkeleyR Livi - University of California, BerkeleyB. M Jakosky - University of Colorado Boulder
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.121(3), pp.2374-2389
- DOI
- 10.1002/2015JA022306
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 16
- Grant note
- NASA CNES
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2016
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199776902771
Metrics
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