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Magnetotail dynamics at Mars: Initial MAVEN observations
Author(s) -
DiBraccio Gina A.,
Espley Jared. R.,
Gruesbeck Jacob R.,
Connerney John E. P.,
Brain David A.,
Halekas Jasper S.,
Mitchell David L.,
McFadden James P.,
Harada Yuki,
Livi Roberto,
Collinson Glyn,
Hara Takuya,
Mazelle Christian,
Jakosky Bruce M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl065248
Subject(s) - substorm , martian , mars exploration program , magnetosphere , astrobiology , plasma sheet , current sheet , physics , atmosphere of mars , flux (metallurgy) , geophysics , atmospheric escape , ionosphere , solar wind , atmosphere (unit) , earth's magnetic field , magnetic field , magnetohydrodynamics , materials science , meteorology , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
We report on the complex nature of the induced Martian magnetotail using simultaneous magnetic field and plasma measurements from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft. Two case studies are analyzed from which we identify (1) repetitive loading and unloading of tail magnetic flux as the field magnitude changes dramatically, exhibiting signatures similar to substorm activity within intrinsic magnetospheres; (2) multiple current sheet crossings indicative of plasma sheet flapping; (3) tailward flowing high‐energy planetary ions (O + and O 2 + ), confined exclusively to the cross‐tail current sheet, contributing to atmospheric escape; and (4) signatures of magnetic flux ropes, suggesting the occurrence of tail reconnection. These events illustrate the complexity of the Martian magnetotail as MAVEN provides key observations relevant to the unanswered questions of induced magnetosphere dynamics.