MAVEN Survey of Magnetic Flux Rope Properties in the Martian Ionosphere: Comparison with 3 Types of Formation Mechanisms | CU Experts

Flux ropes are a magnetic field phenomenon characterized by a filament; of twisted magnetic field with an axial core and outer helical wraps.; They form in the Martian ionosphere via three distinct mechanisms:; boundary wave instabilities (BWI), external reconnection (ER) between; the interplanetary magnetic field and the crustal anomalies, and; internal reconnection (IR) of the crustal anomalies themselves. We have; identified 121 magnetic flux ropes from 1900 orbits using plasma and; magnetic field measurements measured by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile; EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft, and separate flux ropes into categories; based on formation mechanism by analyzing electron signatures. We find; evidence for flux ropes formed via BWI, ER, and IR mechanisms which; comprise 9%, 34%, and 57% of our dataset, respectively. Flux ropes; formed via different mechanisms exhibit differences in location and; force-free radius, indicating the formation mechanism of a flux rope; impacts their influence on the Martian plasma environment.

VIVO