Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at Mars
Abstract Solar wind protons can interact directly with the hydrogen corona of Mars through charge exchange, resulting in energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) able to penetrate deep into the upper atmosphere of Mars. ENAs can undergo multiple charge changing interactions, leading to an observable beam of p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099114 |
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| _version_ | 1832591244774080512 |
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| author | Sarah Henderson Jasper Halekas Zach Girazian Jared Espley Meredith Elrod |
| author_facet | Sarah Henderson Jasper Halekas Zach Girazian Jared Espley Meredith Elrod |
| author_sort | Sarah Henderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Solar wind protons can interact directly with the hydrogen corona of Mars through charge exchange, resulting in energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) able to penetrate deep into the upper atmosphere of Mars. ENAs can undergo multiple charge changing interactions, leading to an observable beam of penetrating protons in the upper atmosphere. We seek to characterize the behavior of these protons in the presence of magnetic fields using data collected by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft. We find that backscattered penetrating proton flux is enhanced in regions where the magnetic field strength is greater than 200 nT. We also find a strong correlation at CO2 column densities less than 5.5 × 1014 cm−2 between magnetic field strength and the observed backscattered and downward flux. We do not see significant changes in penetrating proton flux with magnetic field strengths on the order of 10 nT. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8df79b50e5934feaa873518499539f20 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-8df79b50e5934feaa873518499539f202025-01-22T14:38:16ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072022-06-014912n/an/a10.1029/2022GL099114Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at MarsSarah Henderson0Jasper Halekas1Zach Girazian2Jared Espley3Meredith Elrod4Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Iowa Iowa City IA USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy University of Iowa Iowa City IA USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy University of Iowa Iowa City IA USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USAPlanetary Environments Lab Goddard Space Flight Center NASA Greenbelt MD USAAbstract Solar wind protons can interact directly with the hydrogen corona of Mars through charge exchange, resulting in energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) able to penetrate deep into the upper atmosphere of Mars. ENAs can undergo multiple charge changing interactions, leading to an observable beam of penetrating protons in the upper atmosphere. We seek to characterize the behavior of these protons in the presence of magnetic fields using data collected by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft. We find that backscattered penetrating proton flux is enhanced in regions where the magnetic field strength is greater than 200 nT. We also find a strong correlation at CO2 column densities less than 5.5 × 1014 cm−2 between magnetic field strength and the observed backscattered and downward flux. We do not see significant changes in penetrating proton flux with magnetic field strengths on the order of 10 nT.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099114penetrating protonssolar wind hydrogenMAVEN |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Henderson Jasper Halekas Zach Girazian Jared Espley Meredith Elrod Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at Mars Geophysical Research Letters penetrating protons solar wind hydrogen MAVEN |
| title | Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at Mars |
| title_full | Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at Mars |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at Mars |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at Mars |
| title_short | Influence of Magnetic Fields on Precipitating Solar Wind Hydrogen at Mars |
| title_sort | influence of magnetic fields on precipitating solar wind hydrogen at mars |
| topic | penetrating protons solar wind hydrogen MAVEN |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099114 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahhenderson influenceofmagneticfieldsonprecipitatingsolarwindhydrogenatmars AT jasperhalekas influenceofmagneticfieldsonprecipitatingsolarwindhydrogenatmars AT zachgirazian influenceofmagneticfieldsonprecipitatingsolarwindhydrogenatmars AT jaredespley influenceofmagneticfieldsonprecipitatingsolarwindhydrogenatmars AT meredithelrod influenceofmagneticfieldsonprecipitatingsolarwindhydrogenatmars |