Solar wind plasma protrusion into the martian magnetosphere: ASPERA-3 observations

E. Dubinin*, D. Winningham, M. Fränz, J. Woch, R. Lundin, S. Barabash, A. Fedorov, R. Frahm, J. R. Sharber, A. J. Coates, N. Krupp, J. A. Sauvaud, M. Holmström, H. Andersson, M. Yamauchi, A. Grigoriev, J. J. Thocaven, K. Asamura, C. Curtis, K. S. HsiehB. Sandel, H. Koskinen, E. Kallio, P. Riihelä, W. Schmidt, T. Säles, J. Kozyra, J. Luhmann, S. McKenna-Lawler, R. Cerulli-Irelli, S. Orsini, M. Maggi, E. Roelof, D. Williams, S. Livi, P. Wurz, P. Bochsler, C. Dierker, M. Grande, M. Carter

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The ASPERA-3 experiment onboard the Mars Express spacecraft revealed, near the wake boundary of Mars, a spatially narrow, strip-like plasma structure composed of magnetosheath-like electrons and planetary ions. The peak electron energy often exceeds the peak energy at the bow shock that indicates a significant heating (acceleration) during the structure formation. It is shown that this structure is formed during efficient plasma penetration into the martian magnetosphere in the region near the terminator. The penetration of sheath electrons and their gradual heating (acceleration) is accompanied by a change of the ion composition from a solar wind plasma to a planetary plasma dominated by oxygen ions. A possible mechanism of plasma inflow to the magnetosphere is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)343-349
Number of pages7
JournalIcarus
Volume182
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2006

Keywords

  • Magnetospheres
  • Mars

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