Influence of the crustal magnetic field on the Mars aurora electron flux and UV brightness

被引：15
作者：
Bisikalo, D. V. [1 ]
Shematovich, V. I. [1 ]
Gerard, J. -C. [2 ]
Hubert, B. [2 ]
机构：
[1] Russian Acad Sci, Inst Astron, Pyatnitskaya St 48, Moscow 119017, Russia
[2] Univ Liege, Lab Phys Atmospher & Planetaire, STAR Inst, Allee 6 Aout,19C, B-4000 Liege, Belgium
来源：
ICARUS | 2017年 / 282卷
基金：
俄罗斯科学基金会;
关键词：
Mars; Aurorae; Ultraviolet observations; Magnetic fields; PLASMA ACCELERATION; CROSS-SECTIONS; ATMOSPHERE; IMPACT; PRECIPITATION; ASPERA-3; MISSION; CO2;
D O I：
10.1016/j.icarus.2016.08.035
中图分类号：
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号：
0704 ;
摘要：
Observations with the SPICAM instrument on board Mars Express have shown the occasional presence of localized ultraviolet nightside emissions associated with enhanced energetic electron fluxes. These features generally occur in regions with significant radial crustal magnetic field. We use a Monte-Carlo electron transport model to investigate the role of the magnetic field on the downward and upward electron fluxes, the brightness and the emitted power of auroral emissions. Simulations based on an ASPERA-3 measured auroral electron precipitation indicate that magnetic mirroring leads to an intensification of the energy flux carried by upward moving electrons- from about 20% in the absence of crustal magnetic field up to 33-78% when magnetic field is included depending on magnetic field topology. Conservation of the particle flux in a flux tube implies that the presence of the B-field does not appreciably modify the emission rate profiles for an initially isotropic pitch angle distribution. However, we find that crustal magnetic field results in increase of the upward electron flux, and, consequently, in reduction of the total auroral brightness for given energy flux of precipitating electrons. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码：127 / 135
页数：9
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