A model of the ion wake of Mars

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i006p00869· OSTI ID:6485990

Luhmann, J G ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)

Observations from the PHOBOS spacecraft suggest that, for the most part, the Martian magnetotail is induced instead of intrinsic. In this paper, test particle techniques are used to determine how the associated ion wake might appear to detectors behind Mars if it is produced primarily by planetary ions picked up by the solar wind in the dayside exosphere. The results suggest that low energy (< 10 keV) pickup ions populate the inner wake, while a more energetic component is present in the outer magnetosheath and adjacent solar wind. The latter has a finite gyroradius related spatial asymmetry controlled by the interplanetary field orientation. This asymmetry is analogous to, but stronger than, that which appears in Venus ion wake observations because of the smaller obstacle size and weaker interplanetary field at Mars.

• OSTI ID: 6485990
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 17:6; ISSN GPRLA; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASYMMETRY
ATMOSPHERES
CHARGED PARTICLES
INTERACTIONS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONIZATION
IONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSHEATH
MARS PLANET
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MORPHOLOGY
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES