Mars heavy ion precipitating flux as measured by Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN

François Leblanc; Ronan Modolo; Shannon Curry; Janet Luhmann; Rob Lillis; Jean-Yves Chaufray; Takuya Hara; Jim Mcfadden; Jasper Halekas; Frank Eparvier; Davin Larson; J. Connerney; Bruce Jakosky

doi:10.1002/2015GL066170

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Mars heavy ion precipitating flux as measured by Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Mars heavy ion precipitating flux as measured by Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN

François Leblanc, Ronan Modolo, Shannon Curry, Janet Luhmann, Rob Lillis, Jean-Yves Chaufray, Takuya Hara, Jim Mcfadden, Jasper Halekas, Frank Eparvier, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(21), pp.9135–9141-9141

11/16/2015

DOI: 10.1002/2015GL066170

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Abstract

In the absence of an intrinsic dipole magnetic field, Mars' O+ planetary ions are accelerated by the solar wind. Because of their large gyroradius, a population of these planetary ions can precipitate back into Mars' upper atmosphere with enough energy to eject neutrals into space via collision. This process, referred to as sputtering, may have been a dominant atmospheric loss process during earlier stages of our Sun. Yet until now, a limited number of observations have been possible; Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms-3/Mars Express observed such a precipitation only during extreme conditions, suggesting that sputtering might be not as intense as theoretically predicted. Here we describe one example of precipitation of heavy ions during quiet solar conditions. Between November 2014 and April 2015, the average precipitating flux is significant and in agreement with predictions. From these measured precipitating fluxes, we estimate that a maximum of 1.0 × 1024 O/s could have been lost due to sputtering.

Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics

Earth Sciences

Geophysics

Physics

Sciences of the Universe

Details

Title: Subtitle: Mars heavy ion precipitating flux as measured by Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN
Creators: François Leblanc - Sorbonne Université
Ronan Modolo - Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales
Shannon Curry - Super Stars Literacy
Janet Luhmann - Super Stars Literacy
Rob Lillis - Space Sciences Laboratory [Berkeley]
Jean-Yves Chaufray - Sorbonne Université
Takuya Hara - Super Stars Literacy
Jim Mcfadden - Super Stars Literacy
Jasper Halekas - University of Iowa
Frank Eparvier - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Davin Larson - Super Stars Literacy
J. Connerney - Goddard Space Flight Center
Bruce Jakosky - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(21), pp.9135–9141-9141
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL066170
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Grant note: name: “Système Solaire” of CNES; name: MAVEN project
Language: English
Date published: 11/16/2015
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984428670002771

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