Journal article
Multipoint Observations of Magnetic Reconnection in the Martian Magnetotail Triggered by an Interplanetary Magnetic Field Rotation
Astrophysical journal. Letters, Vol.982(2), L42
03/26/2025
DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/adbf10
Abstract
Abstract The induced magnetosphere of Mars is highly dynamic, driven by both the upstream solar wind and the planet’s crustal magnetic fields. This variability can occur on timescales much shorter than a single spacecraft orbit, making it difficult to distinguish between spatial and temporal variations in the induced magnetosphere. In this study, we utilize simultaneous multipoint observations from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) and Tianwen-1 missions to investigate how the induced magnetosphere responds to dynamic changes in the solar wind. We report a magnetic reconnection event observed by MAVEN in the Martian magnetotail, occurring a few minutes after an interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) rotation observed by Tianwen-1 in the upstream solar wind. This reconnection event is characterized by clear Hall magnetic field signatures and high-speed ion jets, indicating the presence of a diffusion region. Our analysis of the change in the magnetic field morphology suggests that this reconnection was likely triggered by this IMF rotation, occurring during the resulting reconfiguration of the induced magnetosphere. This multipoint study demonstrates the important role of dynamic upstream solar wind conditions, particularly IMF rotations, in driving the plasma processes in the Martian magnetotail, contributing to our understanding of solar wind energy and momentum transfer and their roles in ion escape in Mars’s hybrid magnetosphere.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Multipoint Observations of Magnetic Reconnection in the Martian Magnetotail Triggered by an Interplanetary Magnetic Field Rotation
- Creators
- Yuanzheng Wen - University of IowaJasper Halekas - Department of Physics and Astronomy [Iowa City]Han-Wen Shen - University of IowaAbigail Azari - University of AlbertaDavid Brain - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsYaxue Dong - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsDavid Mitchell - Space Sciences Laboratory [Berkeley]Christian Mazelle - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et PlanétologieJared Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterJames Mcfadden - Space Sciences Laboratory [Berkeley]
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Astrophysical journal. Letters, Vol.982(2), L42
- Publisher
- Bristol : IOP Publishing
- DOI
- 10.3847/2041-8213/adbf10
- ISSN
- 2041-8205
- eISSN
- 2041-8213
- Grant note
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)https://doi.org/10.13039/100000104: NNH10CC04C NASA
We acknowledge NASA and the MAVEN mission for support through grant NNH10CC04C to the University of Colorado and by subcontract to Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley. We acknowledge Prof. Yuki Harada for helpful discussions at the MAVEN Reconnection Working Group Meeting. The research described in this Letter utilizes publicly available data from the MAVEN Science Data Center (https://lasp.colorado.edu/maven/sdc/public/data/sci/) and NASA Planetary Data System (https://pds-ppi.igpp.ucla.edu/), including data from the MAG (J. E. P. Connerney 2024), STATIC (J. P. McFadden 2024), SWIA (J. S. Halekas 2024), and SWEA (D. L. Mitchell 2024) instruments. We also acknowledge the Tianwen-1 MOMAG team for providing data access and support. The Tianwen-1/MOMAG data are publicly available at the Lunar and Planetary Data Release System (https://moon.bao.ac.cn/web/enmanager/mars1).
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/26/2025
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984802509502771
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