Title: Simulated solar wind plasma interaction with the Martian exosphere: influence of the solar EUV flux on the bow shock and the magnetic pile-up boundary
Author(s): Modolo R (Modolo, R.), Chanteur GM (Chanteur, G. M.), Dubinin E (Dubinin, E.), Matthews AP (Matthews, A. P.)
Source: ANNALES GEOPHYSICAE 24 (12): 3403-3410 2006
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Cited References: 43      Times Cited: 0      Find Related Records Information
Abstract: The solar wind plasma interaction with the Martian exosphere is investigated by means of 3-D multi-species hybrid simulations. The influence of the solar EUV flux on the bow shock and the magnetic pile-up boundary is examined by comparing two simulations describing the two extreme states of the solar cycle. The hybrid formalism allows a kinetic description of each ions species and a fluid description of electrons. The ionization processes (photoionization, electron impact and charge exchange) are included self-consistently in the model where the production rate is computed locally, separately for each ionization act and for each neutral species. The results of simulations are in a reasonable agreement with the observations made by Phobos 2 and Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. The position of the bow shock and the magnetic pile-up boundary is weakly dependent of the solar EUV flux. The motional electric field creates strong asymmetries for the two plasma boundaries.
Author Keywords: magnetospheric physics; solar wind interactions with unmagnetized bodies; space plasma physics; ionization processes; numerical simulation studies
KeyWords Plus: MARS-GLOBAL-SURVEYOR; FIELD DRAPING ENHANCEMENT; HYBRID SIMULATION; MAG/ER EXPERIMENT; VENUS; ENVIRONMENT; LOCATION; SHAPES
Addresses: Modolo R (reprint author), IPSL, CETP, 10-12 Ave Europe, F-78140 Velizy Villacoublay, France
IPSL, CETP, F-78140 Velizy Villacoublay, France
Max Planck Inst Solar Syst Res, D-37191 Katlenburg Lindau, Germany
Univ KwaZulu Natal, Sch Pure & Appl Phys, ZA-4041 Durban, South Africa
E-mail Addresses: ronan.modolo@cetp.ipsl.fr
Publisher: EUROPEAN GEOSCIENCES UNION, MAX-PLANCK-STR 13, 37191 KATLENBURG-LINDAU, GERMANY
Subject Category: Astronomy & Astrophysics; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary; Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
IDS Number: 135IS
ISSN: 0992-7689