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The September 2017 SEP Event in Context With the Current Solar Cycle: Mars Express ASPERA‐3/IMA and MAVEN/SEP Observations
Author(s) -
Ramstad Robin,
Holmström Mats,
Futaana Yoshifumi,
Lee Christina O.,
Rahmati Ali,
Dunn Patrick,
Lillis Robert J.,
Larson Davin
Publication year - 2018
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 - 10.1029/2018gl077842
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , physics , solar energetic particles , event (particle physics) , atmosphere of mars , context (archaeology) , atmosphere (unit) , particle (ecology) , astrobiology , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , astrophysics , plasma , solar wind , meteorology , nuclear physics , coronal mass ejection , martian , geology , paleontology , oceanography
We use Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution/Solar Energetic Particle (MAVEN/SEP) data to estimate the ranges of particle energies that generate background noise in the Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms‐3/Ion Mass Analyzer (IMA) instrument on Mars Express. The particles that generate IMA background counts are estimated to be electrons with energies >1 MeV and protons >20 MeV. The September 2017 event at Mars resulted in the strongest flux of energetic particles measured by MAVEN/SEP. We correspondingly use the IMA background data to compare this event with the rest of the last solar cycle and back to 2004, finding the event to be the fourth strongest solar energetic particle event detected by Mars Express.