Marsward and tailward ions in the near-Mars magnetotail: MAVEN observations

Y. Harada; J. S. Halekas; J. P. McFadden; D. L. Mitchell; C. Mazelle; J. E. P. Connerney; J. Espley; D. E. Larson; D. A. Brain; G. A. DiBraccio; S. M. Curry; T. Hara; R. Livi; S. Ruhunusiri; B. M. Jakosky

doi:10.1002/2015GL065005

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Marsward and tailward ions in the near-Mars magnetotail: MAVEN observations

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Marsward and tailward ions in the near-Mars magnetotail: MAVEN observations

Y. Harada, J. S. Halekas, J. P. McFadden, D. L. Mitchell, C. Mazelle, J. E. P. Connerney, J. Espley, D. E. Larson, D. A. Brain, G. A. DiBraccio, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(21), pp.8925-8932

11/16/2015

DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065005

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Abstract

We present Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) observations of Marsward and tailward fluxes of suprathermal (>25 eV) ions in the near-Mars (similar to 1-1.5 Mars radii downstream) magnetotail. Statistical results show that the Marsward proton flux and magnetic field draping pattern are well organized by the upstream motional electric field direction. We observe both significant Marsward proton fluxes and tightly wrapped magnetic field lines in the hemisphere pointed in the opposite direction to the upstream electric field. These characteristics are very similar to those observed at Venus. On the other hand, the net flux of oxygen ions points tailward on average in the Martian tail, while net Venusward flows of oxygen ions were observed frequently in the same hemisphere at Venus. The mechanism by which the Marsward proton flux is produced in the presence of tailward oxygen ion flux remains unclear.

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

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Title: Subtitle: Marsward and tailward ions in the near-Mars magnetotail: MAVEN observations
Creators: Y. Harada - University of California, Berkeley
J. S. Halekas - University of Iowa
J. P. McFadden - University of California, Berkeley
D. L. Mitchell - Univ Calif Berkeley, Space Sci Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
C. Mazelle - Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology
J. E. P. Connerney - Goddard Space Flight Center
J. Espley - Goddard Space Flight Center
D. E. Larson - University of California, Berkeley
D. A. Brain - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
G. A. DiBraccio - Goddard Space Flight Center
S. M. Curry - University of California, Berkeley
T. Hara - University of California, Berkeley
R. Livi - University of California, Berkeley
S. Ruhunusiri - University of Iowa
B. M. Jakosky - University of Colorado Boulder
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(21), pp.8925-8932
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065005
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Number of pages: 8
Language: English
Date published: 11/16/2015
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984428767602771

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