Journal article
Making Waves: Mirror Mode Structures Around Mars Observed by the MAVEN Spacecraft
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.127(1), pp.e2021JA029811-n/a
01/2022
DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029811
PMCID: PMC9285749
PMID: 35860696
Abstract
We present an in-depth analysis of a time interval when quasi-linear mirror mode structures were detected by magnetic field and plasma measurements as observed by the NASA/Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft. We employ ion and electron spectrometers in tandem to support the magnetic field measurements and confirm that the signatures are indeed mirror modes. Wedged against the magnetic pile-up boundary, the low-frequency signatures last on average similar to 10 $\sim 10$ s with corresponding sizes of the order of 15-30 upstream solar wind proton thermal gyroradii, or 10-20 proton gyroradii in the immediate wake of the quasi-perpendicular bow shock. Their peak-to-peak amplitudes are of the order of 30-35 nT with respect to the background field, and appear as a mixture of dips and peaks, suggesting that they may have been at different stages in their evolution. Situated in a marginally stable plasma with beta(||) similar to 1, we hypothesize that these so-called magnetic bottles, containing a relatively higher energy and denser ion population with respect to the background plasma, are formed upstream of the spacecraft behind the quasi-perpendicular shock. These signatures are very reminiscent of magnetic bottles found at other unmagnetized objects such as Venus and comets, also interpreted as mirror modes. Our case study constitutes the first unmistakable identification and characterization of mirror modes at Mars from the joint points of view of magnetic field, electron and ion measurements. Up until now, the lack of high-temporal resolution plasma measurements has prevented such an in-depth study.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Making Waves: Mirror Mode Structures Around Mars Observed by the MAVEN Spacecraft
- Creators
- Cyril Simon Wedlund - Austrian Acad Sci, Space Res Inst, Graz, AustriaMartin Volwerk - Space Research InstituteChristian Mazelle - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et PlanétologieJasper Halekas - University of IowaDiana Rojas-Castillo - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoJared Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterChristian Mostl - Space Research Institute
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.127(1), pp.e2021JA029811-n/a
- DOI
- 10.1029/2021JA029811
- PMID
- 35860696
- PMCID
- PMC9285749
- NLM abbreviation
- J Geophys Res Space Phys
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Publisher
- Amer Geophysical Union
- Number of pages
- 28
- Grant note
- French space agency CNES; Centre National D'etudes Spatiales P32035-N36; P31659-N27; P31521-N27 / Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984428781702771
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