A Case Study of the Induced Magnetosphere Boundary at the Martian Subsolar Region

Abstract

One Martian induced magnetosphere boundary (IMB) crossing at the subsolar region is analyzed here with multiple instruments on board MAVEN. Properties of the magnetic field and particles around the IMB are evaluated. We find different trends of variation in magnetic field components at the two sides of an interface coincident with the previously defined ion composition boundary. This case shows the IMB at the Martian dayside could be divided into three parts: two regions (denoted as R1 and R2), with different field and plasma properties, and an interface between them. Currents found in R1 and R2 are flowing in antiparallel, and the current density in R2 (at lower altitude) is significantly larger than that in R1 (at higher altitude). Results indicate the interaction between Mars and the solar wind could induce strong currents in the IMB, which are with antiparallel current directions and separated by an interface where the ion composition changes. This could be a typical feature that occurred during the interaction between the solar wind and the nonmagnetized planets.