A chain of magnetic flux ropes in the magnetotail of Mars

Details A chain of magnetic flux ropes in the magnetotail of Mars A chain of magnetic flux ropes in the magnetotail of Mars

Feb 2012

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012georl..3903104e&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 39, Issue 3, CiteID L03104

Physics

Plasma Physics

Magnetospheric Physics: Solar Wind Interactions With Unmagnetized Bodies, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Magnetospheres (2756), Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Mars, Space Plasma Physics: Magnetic Reconnection (2723, 7526), Space Plasma Physics: Transport Processes

Scientific paper

The interaction of Mars with the solar wind leads to the formation of a magnetotail through which significant quantities of planetary plasma are transported. Of particular interest is the extent to which this plasma transport could be affected by magnetotail dynamics, for example by magnetic reconnection and flux rope formation. Here we show observations from Mars Global Surveyor of multiple flux ropes observed in Mars' magnetotail current sheet. A chain of at least three flux ropes is observed; based on the geometry of the encounter, the flux ropes are all being ejected in the same direction from a single dominant site and modeling shows that at least two of the flux ropes are close to being in a force free condition. Given geometrical considerations, it is likely that the flux ropes are generated sequentially rather than simultaneously, suggesting periodic generation via secondary instabilities at the reconnection site.

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