Scientists at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), in collaboration with researchers from Japan, the USA, and the UAE, have detected the existence of high-frequency plasma waves in the Martian upper atmosphere. Using high-resolution electric field data from NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) spacecraft, the researchers observed two distinct wave modes with frequencies below and above the electron plasma frequency in the Martian magnetosphere.
The observations occurred around 5 LT (local time) on February 9, 2015, as MAVEN crossed the magnetopause boundary and entered the magnetosheath region. The detected waves exhibited either broadband or narrowband characteristics with distinguishable features in the frequency domain. Broadband waves consistently showed periodic patchy structures with a periodicity of 8–14 milliseconds.
The presence of these plasma waves can help scientists understand plasma processes in the Martian plasma environment, providing insights into how electrons gain or dissipate energy in the unique magnetic and atmospheric conditions of Mars. Further investigation is required to explore the physical mechanisms responsible for the generation and modulation of these plasma waves.
The study, published in the Astronomy & Astrophysics Journal, contributes valuable information to our understanding of the Martian upper atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind.
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