Other
Scientific paper
Jun 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006icar..182..383l&link_type=abstract
Icarus, Volume 182, Issue 2, p. 383-395.
Other
14
Scientific paper
The Electron Spectrometer (ELS) instrument of the ASPERA-3 package on the Mars Express satellite has recorded photoelectron energy spectra up to apoapsis (˜10,000 km altitude). The characteristic photoelectron shape of the spectrum is sometimes seen well above the ionosphere in the evening sector across a wide range of near-equatorial latitudes. Two numerical models are used to analyze the characteristics of these high-altitude photoelectrons. The first is a global, multi-species MHD code that produces a 3-D representation of the magnetic field and bulk plasma parameters around Mars. It is used here to examine the possibility of magnetic connectivity between the high-altitude flanks of the martian ionosheath and the subsolar ionosphere. It is shown that some field lines in this region are draped interplanetary magnetic lines while others are open field lines (connected to both the IMF and the crustal magnetic field sources). The second model is a kinetic electron transport model that calculates the electron velocity space distribution along a selected, non-uniform, magnetic field line. It is used here to simulate the high-altitude ELS measurements. It is shown that the photoelectrons are essentially confined to the source cone, as governed by magnetic field inhomogeneity along the field line. Reasonable agreement is shown between the data and the model results, and a method is demonstrated for inferring properties of the local and photoelectron source region magnetic field from the ELS measurements. Specifically, the number of sectors in which photoelectrons are measured is a function of the magnetic field intensity ratio and the field's angle with respect to the detector plane. In addition, the sector of the photoelectron flux peak is a function of the magnetic field azimuthal angle in the detector plane.
Andersson Hans
Asamura Kazushi
Barabash Stas
Bell James
Bochsler Peter
No associations
LandOfFree
Numerical interpretation of high-altitude photoelectron observations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Numerical interpretation of high-altitude photoelectron observations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Numerical interpretation of high-altitude photoelectron observations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1061759