The effects of solar wind pressure on the Martian magnetic pileup boundary

Physics

Scientific paper

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5421 Interactions With Particles And Fields, 5435 Ionospheres (2459), 5440 Magnetic Fields And Magnetism, 5494 Instruments And Techniques, 6225 Mars

Scientific paper

We investigate the effects of solar wind dynamic pressure on the position of the Magnetic Pileup Boundary (MPB). Analysis of Phobos-2 data showed that the MPB position in the induced magnetotail of Mars is clustered around two solar zenith angles (SZA). Because of the circular orbit of Phobos-2, that translates into two different flare angles of the MPB. A dependence on solar wind ram pressure was identified in the data such that the MPB was less flared when solar wind dynamic pressure is high. We also find a bimodal distribution in the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) magnetotail MPB crossings. MGS, however, does not measure solar wind dynamic pressure directly. We develop a proxy for solar wind dynamic pressure by using the magnitude of the draped magnetic field immediately upstream of the Martian ionopause. The solar wind ram pressure is converted into magnetic pressure upstream of the Martian ionopause. Assuming Newtonian pressure balance, the pressure drops with cos2 (SZA). In this way, we approximate the solar wind dynamic pressure by the measured magnetic field on each orbit. Using the solar wind pressure proxy with the MGS data, we investigate the solar wind pressure dependence on the MPB position in the magnetotail for comparison with the Phobos-2 observations. We relate the results to the local/non-local regimes expected by the effects of crustal magnetization. Then we look at the MPB position on the dayside and the relationship to solar wind dynamic pressure. Finally, we discuss the nature of the MPB and how it forms. We make suggestions for future observations that could facilitate the understanding of the solar wind interaction with Mars.

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