Model calculations of electron precipitation induced ionization patches on the nightside of Mars

M. O Fillingim; L. M Peticolas; R. J Lillis; D. A Brain; J. S Halekas; D. L Mitchell; R. P Lin; D Lummerzheim; S. W Bougher; D. L Kirchner

doi:10.1029/2007GL029986

Back

Model calculations of electron precipitation induced ionization patches on the nightside of Mars

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Model calculations of electron precipitation induced ionization patches on the nightside of Mars

M. O Fillingim, L. M Peticolas, R. J Lillis, D. A Brain, J. S Halekas, D. L Mitchell, R. P Lin, D Lummerzheim, S. W Bougher and D. L Kirchner

Geophysical research letters, Vol.34(12), L12101

06/2007

DOI: 10.1029/2007GL029986

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GL029986View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

[1] Using an electron transport model, we investigate the effect of electron precipitation on the electron density and total electron content in the nightside ionosphere of Mars. As input we use Mars Global Surveyor observations of a typical tail electron spectrum and an auroral-like electron spectrum. The accelerated electron spectrum increases the maximum number density and total electron content by a factor of 3 over that produced by the typical tail spectrum. Our calculations show a secondary electron density peak due to precipitation of several keV electrons not seen in previous modeling efforts. Regions of enhanced ionization are expected to be localized in space, corresponding to magnetic cusps formed by the interaction of crustal sources with the interplanetary magnetic field. Radio and radar measurements from both Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Express agree with this expectation. The horizontally inhomogeneous regions of ionization can affect signals used for subsurface sounding from orbit.

Ionosphere

Mars

modeling

Details

Title: Subtitle: Model calculations of electron precipitation induced ionization patches on the nightside of Mars
Creators: M. O Fillingim - University of California, Berkeley
L. M Peticolas - University of California, Berkeley
R. J Lillis - University of California, Berkeley
D. A Brain - University of California, Berkeley
J. S Halekas - University of California, Berkeley
D. L Mitchell - University of California, Berkeley
R. P Lin - University of California, Berkeley
D Lummerzheim - University of Alaska Fairbanks
S. W Bougher - University of Michigan
D. L Kirchner - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.34(12), L12101
DOI: 10.1029/2007GL029986
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Number of pages: 5
Language: English
Date published: 06/2007
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984199932802771

Metrics

6 Record Views

49 Times Cited - Web of Science