Observational evidence of alpha-particle capture at Mars

Details Observational evidence of alpha-particle capture at Mars Observational evidence of alpha-particle capture at Mars

May 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011georl..3809101s&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 38, Issue 9, CiteID L09101

Physics

Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Mars, Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Ionospheres (2459), Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Atmospheres (0343, 1060)

Scientific paper

Solar wind alpha-particles are suggested to be the most important source of helium in the Martian atmosphere. Recent hybrid simulations show that as much as 30% of the alpha-particles passing through the planetary cross section can be lost from the solar wind due to charge-exchange processes associated with the Mars/solar wind interaction. We use ion data from the ASPERA-3 instrument on Mars Express to investigate the penetration of alpha-particles into the Martian atmosphere. We conclude that solar wind alpha-particles contribute to the helium observed in the atmosphere. In accordance with simulations we see an asymmetry in the capture efficiency related to the solar wind convection electric field.

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