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withers

HR: 0830h
AN: SA11A-03
TI: Novel Modeling of Mars' Ionospheric Electrodynamics
AU: *Riousset, J A
EM: riousset@gatech.edu
AF: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
AU: Paty, C S
EM: carol.paty@eas.gatech.edu
AF: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
AU: Lillis, R J
EM: rlillis@ssl.berkeley.edu
AF: Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
AU: Fillingim, M O
EM: matt@ssl.berkeley.edu
AF: Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
AU: England, S
EM: england@ssl.berkeley.edu
AF: Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
AU: Withers, P
EM: withers@bu.edu
AF: Astronomy Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
AB: The complex interaction between Mars' unique crustal magnetic fields and upper atmospheric electrons, ions and neutrals leads to the formation of currents in the ionospheric dynamo region (i.e., where electrons are magnetized but ions are collisional). These interactions involve elastic and inelastic collisions between ions, electrons and neutrals in the presence of varying bulk motion, pressures, temperatures and densities. In addition, the inherent inhomogeneities in the crustal field causes open and closed magnetic field regions to be in very close proximity. The resulting 'patchy' ionosphere varies on spatial scales of ≤ ∼100 km. These conditions make it impossible to derive an analytical solution of these ionospheric currents. Here we present the methodology, validation and preliminary results of a novel model of Mars' ionospheric currents. The model performs three-dimensional, multi-fluid, self-consistent simulations of electrodynamics in the region of Mars' ionosphere (∼75-400 km altitude), where differential motion between ions and electrons occurs. Our work is built upon a multi-fluid plasma dynamic model that tracks three ions species (O₂⁺, CO₂⁺, and O⁺) and electrons. This method applies equations for conservation of mass, conservation of momentum, charge neutrality, and time-dependent pressure for ion species and electrons while simultaneously solving the generalized Ohm's Law and Maxwell-Ampere equation for the electric and magnetic fields. Incorporated into these equations are the aforementioned collisional interactions between the ions, electrons and neutrals. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of a self-consistent model of Mars' ionospheric electrodynamics, and focus on a thorough and methodic validation of each aspect of the model. Our goal is to build a solid ground for the study of the effects of thermospheric neutral winds, magnetic topologies, and day-night variations on the formation and evolution of ionospheric currents on Mars.
UR: http://web.me.com/riousset/
DE: [2409] IONOSPHERE / Current systems
DE: [5421] PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS / Interactions with particles and fields
DE: [5435] PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS / Ionospheres
DE: [6225] PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS / Mars
SC: SPA-Aeronomy (SA)
MN: 2011 Fall Meeting