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MAVEN observations of magnetic flux ropes with a strong field amplitude in the Martian magnetosheath during the ICME passage on 8 March 2015
Author(s) -
Hara Takuya,
Luhmann Janet G.,
Halekas Jasper S.,
Espley Jared R.,
Seki Kanako,
Brain David A.,
Hasegawa Hiroshi,
McFadden James P.,
Mitchell David L.,
Mazelle Christian,
Harada Yuki,
Livi Roberto,
DiBraccio Gina A.,
Connerney John E. P.,
Andersson Lailla,
Jakosky Bruce M.
Publication year - 2016
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 - 10.1002/2016gl068960
Subject(s) - magnetosheath , martian , physics , flux (metallurgy) , mars exploration program , atmosphere of mars , solar wind , geophysics , amplitude , astrophysics , space weather , magnetic flux , earth's magnetic field , interplanetary spaceflight , coronal mass ejection , magnetic field , astrobiology , magnetopause , materials science , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
We present initial results of strong field amplitude flux ropes observed by Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission around Mars during the interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) passage on 8 March 2015. The observed durations were shorter than 5 s and the magnetic field magnitudes peaked above 80 nT, which is a few times stronger than those usually seen in the magnetosheath barrier. These are the first unique observations that MAVEN detected such flux ropes with a strong field at high altitudes (>5000 km). Across these structures, MAVEN coincidentally measured planetary heavy ions with energies higher than a few keV. The spatial properties inferred from the Grad‐Shafranov equation suggest that the speed of the structure can be estimated at least an order of magnitude faster than those previously reported quiet‐time counterparts. Hence, the space weather event like the ICME passage can be responsible for generating the observed strong field, fast‐traveling flux ropes.