Upstream ULF fluctuations near Mars

Physics

Scientific paper

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Mars Environment, Planetary Magnetic Fields, Solar Wind, Solar Planetary Interactions, Ion Motion, Low Frequencies, Planetary Orbits, Plasma Interactions, Circular Orbits

Scientific paper

Magnetic field data from the Phobos 2 spacecraft near Mars are investigated for ULF fluctuations in the upstream region of the solar wind plasma onstreaming onto the planet. In general, ULF fluctuations of the magnetic field are expected when the spacecraft is located in the ion foreshock, which is defined through the actual magnetic field direction. A statistical study of the occurrence of such ULF fluctuations for all circular orbits around Mars is presented. The upstream boundary of the foreshock is found at rho(BN) about 61 deg for moderate values of the angle between the solar wind velocity vector and the magnetic field vector; for more perpendicular magnetic field configurations, the boundary lies at approximately the same value of rho(BN) about 60 deg. At Mars these boundaries occur at higher rho(BN) values than at Earth. Higher turbulence is found deeper in the foreshock. Therefore the situation is qualitatively in accordance with the situation at Earth or Venus. One difference occurs in the region upstream of the foreshock, where Mars seems to have more wave activity. The reason for this difference is unclear but may be related to the role of planetary ions in the foreshock or to the contribution of ion kinetic effects to the solar wind interaction with Mars.

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