Computer Science
Scientific paper
Apr 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003eaeja.....7993l&link_type=abstract
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly, Abstracts from the meeting held in Nice, France, 6 - 11 April 2003, abstract #7993
Computer Science
Scientific paper
The Electron Reflectometer (ER) aboard Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) samples the local electron population's distribution in energy and pitch angle (the angle between an electron's instantaneous velocity and local magnetic field direction) at the mapping orbit altitude of ~400km. We have developed a single-particle model of an electron's interaction with the neutral atmosphere as it gyrates around open field lines connecting the solar wind to remnant crustal magnetic fields. Electrons that penetrate to lower altitudes before magnetically reflecting are more likely to be absorbed by the neutral atmosphere. By fitting measured electron pitch angle distributions with this model, we can determine the strength of the magnetic field at ~200km, which represents an eight-fold increase in sensitivity to isolated magnetic sources compared with Magnetometer measurements at 400 km. We have mapped selected regions using this technique and are working towards a global electron reflection map. Our electron reflection results show good agreement with Magnetometer measurements where the field is strong enough to be mapped with both techniques. Over the regions where low-altitude Magnetometer data (collected during aerobraking) are sparse or missing, the ER can be used to search for crustal magnetic sources that are too weak to be detected by the Magnetometer at 400 km. Initial results reveal weak and isolated crustal magnetic sources within the Hellas Basin. These sources are far too weak to account for a horizontal field over the basin with a strength of several nanotesla, which has been inferred from ionospheric perturbations observed by the ER using a separate technique (Lee et al., this conference). This horizontal field is thus likely to originate from magnetic sources around the basin perimeter.
Acuña Mario Humberto
Cloutier Paul A.
Lee Chong OH
Lillis Robert J.
Lin Robert P.
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