Mars’s induced magnetosphere can degenerate

Qi Zhang (), Stas Barabash, Mats Holmstrom, Xiao-dong Wang, Yoshifumi Futaana, Christopher M. Fowler, Robin Ramstad and Hans Nilsson
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Qi Zhang: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Stas Barabash: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Mats Holmstrom: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Xiao-dong Wang: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Yoshifumi Futaana: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Christopher M. Fowler: West Virginia University
Robin Ramstad: University of Colorado
Hans Nilsson: Swedish Institute of Space Physics

Nature, 2024, vol. 634, issue 8032, 45-47

Abstract: Abstract The interaction between planets and stellar winds can lead to atmospheric loss and is, thus, important for the evolution of planetary atmospheres1. The planets in our Solar System typically interact with the solar wind, whose velocity is at a large angle to the embedded stellar magnetic field. For planets without an intrinsic magnetic field, this interaction creates an induced magnetosphere and a bow shock in front of the planet2. However, when the angle between the solar wind velocity and the solar wind magnetic field (cone angle) is small, the interaction is very different3. Here we show that when the cone angle is small at Mars, the induced magnetosphere degenerates. There is no shock on the dayside, only weak flank shocks. A cross-flow plume appears and the ambipolar field drives planetary ions upstream. Hybrid simulations with a 4° cone angle show agreement with observations by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission4 and Mars Express5. Degenerate, induced magnetospheres are complex and not yet explored objects. It remains to be studied what the secondary effects are on processes like atmospheric loss through ion escape.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07959-z

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