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- Title
The magnetic field structure of the Martian MPB from MAVEN data.
- Authors
Boscoboinik, Gabriela; Bertucci, Cesar; Mazelle, Christian; Gomez, Daniel; Mitchell, David; Halekas, Jasper; Espley, Jared
- Abstract
The study of the current systems within the magnetosphere of Mars is essential to understand the energy and momentum transfer processes that lead to atmospheric escape. Since 2014 the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft has been in elliptical orbit around Mars characterizing its atmosphere and plasma environment. In the present work we analyze data from the magnetometer (MAG), and solar wind particle instruments (SWIA and SWEA) to identify the Martian magnetic pileup boundary (MPB) and to characterize its magnetic morphology.More specifically, we used the minimum variance analysis of the magnetic field (MVAB) to derive the boundary's normal vector, its thickness and the associated current density. We find that within the MPB the minimum variance direction of the magnetic field is well defined, and it is approximately normal to the surface of the discontinuity derived from the existing conic section fits. This analysis also reveals that the MPB behaves either as a rotational or a tangential discontinuity in the magnetohydrodynamical sense.As reported in previous works, the thickness of the discontinuity in the normal direction is of the order of the solar wind proton inertial length and not the gyroradius, suggesting that the role of Hall effects near the MPB is important. We then studied the relative importance of the Hall electric field with respect to the convective electric field within the generalized Ohm's Law.
- Subjects
MAGNETIC structure; MAGNETIC fields; MOMENTUM transfer; MARTIAN atmosphere; OHM'S law; HALL effect; SOLAR wind
- Publication
Geophysical Research Abstracts, 2019, Vol 21, p1
- ISSN
1029-7006
- Publication type
Article