Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced Magnetotail
Abstract Mars's magnetotail represents a unique case within the solar system, embodying both intrinsic and induced magnetic fields. Yet, the electron dynamics within this region have remained largely unexplored. Utilizing nine years of electron and magnetic field data from the Mars Atmosphere a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113030 |
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| _version_ | 1850136966185615360 |
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| author | Chi Zhang Chuanfei Dong Hongyang Zhou Jan Deca Shaosui Xu Yuki Harada Shannon M. Curry David L. Mitchell Zhi‐Yang Liu Junfeng Qin Christian Mazelle |
| author_facet | Chi Zhang Chuanfei Dong Hongyang Zhou Jan Deca Shaosui Xu Yuki Harada Shannon M. Curry David L. Mitchell Zhi‐Yang Liu Junfeng Qin Christian Mazelle |
| author_sort | Chi Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mars's magnetotail represents a unique case within the solar system, embodying both intrinsic and induced magnetic fields. Yet, the electron dynamics within this region have remained largely unexplored. Utilizing nine years of electron and magnetic field data from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN), we conducted a comprehensive statistical analysis to uncover the average electron characteristics in the Martian induced magnetotail for the first time. Our findings revealed a distinct pattern of electron behavior: in the lobe regions, electrons tend to converge toward the current sheet, driven by an ambipolar electric field that is directed from the current sheet toward the lobe. Additionally, we observed that electrons are more energetic in the +E hemisphere, where the solar wind electric field points away from Mars, compared to the opposite hemisphere. This mirrors the behavior of planetary ions and supports the hypothesized formation mechanism of sinuous auroras. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e68c17f1fb84edf85da51b799b7e94c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e68c17f1fb84edf85da51b799b7e94c2025-08-20T02:30:59ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01527n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113030Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced MagnetotailChi Zhang0Chuanfei Dong1Hongyang Zhou2Jan Deca3Shaosui Xu4Yuki Harada5Shannon M. Curry6David L. Mitchell7Zhi‐Yang Liu8Junfeng Qin9Christian Mazelle10Center for Space Physics and Department of Astronomy Boston University Boston MA USACenter for Space Physics and Department of Astronomy Boston University Boston MA USACenter for Space Physics and Department of Astronomy Boston University Boston MA USALaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder CO USASpace Sciences Laboratory University of California Berkeley CA USADepartment of Geophysics Graduate School of Science Kyoto University Kyoto JapanLaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder CO USASpace Sciences Laboratory University of California Berkeley CA USAIRAP CNRS‐UPS‐CNES Toulouse FranceSpace Sciences Laboratory University of California Berkeley CA USAIRAP CNRS‐UPS‐CNES Toulouse FranceAbstract Mars's magnetotail represents a unique case within the solar system, embodying both intrinsic and induced magnetic fields. Yet, the electron dynamics within this region have remained largely unexplored. Utilizing nine years of electron and magnetic field data from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN), we conducted a comprehensive statistical analysis to uncover the average electron characteristics in the Martian induced magnetotail for the first time. Our findings revealed a distinct pattern of electron behavior: in the lobe regions, electrons tend to converge toward the current sheet, driven by an ambipolar electric field that is directed from the current sheet toward the lobe. Additionally, we observed that electrons are more energetic in the +E hemisphere, where the solar wind electric field points away from Mars, compared to the opposite hemisphere. This mirrors the behavior of planetary ions and supports the hypothesized formation mechanism of sinuous auroras.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113030marselectron distributionsinduced magnetotailsolar windelectric fieldsaurora |
| spellingShingle | Chi Zhang Chuanfei Dong Hongyang Zhou Jan Deca Shaosui Xu Yuki Harada Shannon M. Curry David L. Mitchell Zhi‐Yang Liu Junfeng Qin Christian Mazelle Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced Magnetotail Geophysical Research Letters mars electron distributions induced magnetotail solar wind electric fields aurora |
| title | Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced Magnetotail |
| title_full | Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced Magnetotail |
| title_fullStr | Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced Magnetotail |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced Magnetotail |
| title_short | Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced Magnetotail |
| title_sort | observational characteristics of electron distributions in the martian induced magnetotail |
| topic | mars electron distributions induced magnetotail solar wind electric fields aurora |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113030 |
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