Journal article
Reconnection in the Martian Magnetotail: Hall‐MHD With Embedded Particle‐in‐Cell Simulations
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.123(5), pp.3742-3763
05/2018
DOI: 10.1029/2017JA024729
Abstract
Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission observations show clear evidence of the occurrence of the magnetic reconnection process in the Martian plasma tail. In this study, we use sophisticated numerical models to help us understand the effects of magnetic reconnection in the plasma tail. The numerical models used in this study are (a) a multispecies global Hall‐magnetohydrodynamic (HMHD) model and (b) a global HMHD model two‐way coupled to an embedded fully kinetic particle‐in‐cell code. Comparison with MAVEN observations clearly shows that the general interaction pattern is well reproduced by the global HMHD model. The coupled model takes advantage of both the efficiency of the MHD model and the ability to incorporate kinetic processes of the particle‐in‐cell model, making it feasible to conduct kinetic simulations for Mars under realistic solar wind conditions for the first time. Results from the coupled model show that the Martian magnetotail is highly dynamic due to magnetic reconnection, and the resulting Mars‐ward plasma flow velocities are significantly higher for the lighter ion fluid, which are quantitatively consistent with MAVEN observations. The HMHD with Embedded Particle‐in‐Cell model predicts that the ion loss rates are more variable but with similar mean values as compared with HMHD model results.
Key Points
Model results show that the Martian magnetotail is highly dynamic due to magnetic reconnection
The numerical simulations predict that the Mars‐ward plasma flow, due to magnetic reconnection, is faster for lighter ions, consistent with MAVEN observations
The HMHD EPIC model simulations predict that the ion loss rates are more variable but with similar mean values as compared with HMHD model
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Reconnection in the Martian Magnetotail: Hall‐MHD With Embedded Particle‐in‐Cell Simulations
- Creators
- Yingjuan Ma - University of California, Los AngelesChristopher T Russell - University of California, Los AngelesGabor Toth - University of MichiganYuxi Chen - University of MichiganAndrew F Nagy - University of MichiganYuki Harada - University of IowaJames McFadden - University of California, BerkeleyJasper S Halekas - University of IowaRob Lillis - University of California, BerkeleyJohn E. P Connerney - Goddard Space Flight CenterJared Espley - Goddard Space Flight CenterGina A DiBraccio - Goddard Space Flight CenterStefano Markidis - KTH Royal Institute of TechnologyIvy Bo Peng - KTH Royal Institute of TechnologyXiaohua Fang - University of Colorado BoulderBruce M Jakosky - University of Colorado Boulder
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.123(5), pp.3742-3763
- DOI
- 10.1029/2017JA024729
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Number of pages
- 22
- Grant note
- NASA Mars Scout Program and INSPIRE NSF (PHY‐1513379) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Mars Scout Program)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/2018
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199744002771
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