Detection of magnetospheric ion drift patterns at Mars

Chi Zhang, Hans Nilsson, Yusuke Ebihara, Masatoshi Yamauchi, Moa Persson, Zhaojin Rong (), Jun Zhong, Chuanfei Dong, Yuxi Chen, Xuzhi Zhou, Yixin Sun, Yuki Harada, Jasper Halekas, Shaosui Xu, Yoshifumi Futaana, Zhen Shi, Chongjing Yuan, Xiaotong Yun, Song Fu, Jiawei Gao, Mats Holmström, Yong Wei () and Stas Barabash
Additional contact information
Chi Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hans Nilsson: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Yusuke Ebihara: Kyoto University
Masatoshi Yamauchi: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Moa Persson: The University of Tokyo
Zhaojin Rong: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jun Zhong: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chuanfei Dong: Boston University
Yuxi Chen: Boston University
Xuzhi Zhou: Peking University
Yixin Sun: Peking University
Yuki Harada: Kyoto University
Jasper Halekas: University of Iowa
Shaosui Xu: University of California, Berkeley
Yoshifumi Futaana: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Zhen Shi: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chongjing Yuan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaotong Yun: Wuhan University
Song Fu: Wuhan University
Jiawei Gao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Mats Holmström: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Yong Wei: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Stas Barabash: Swedish Institute of Space Physics

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Mars lacks a global magnetic field, and instead possesses small-scale crustal magnetic fields, making its magnetic environment fundamentally different from intrinsic magnetospheres like those of Earth or Saturn. Here we report the discovery of magnetospheric ion drift patterns, typical of intrinsic magnetospheres, at Mars using measurements from Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission. Specifically, we observe wedge-like dispersion structures of hydrogen ions exhibiting butterfly-shaped distributions (pitch angle peaks at 22.5°−45° and 135°−157.5°) within the Martian crustal fields, a feature previously observed only in planetary-scale intrinsic magnetospheres. These dispersed structures are the results of drift motions that fundamentally resemble those observed in intrinsic magnetospheres. Our findings indicate that the Martian magnetosphere embodies an intermediate case where both the unmagnetized and magnetized ion behaviors could be observed because of the wide range of strengths and spatial scales of the crustal magnetic fields around Mars.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42630-7

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