Dusty plasma effects in the nighttime ionosphere of mars

Abstract

<p>A self-consistent consideration of the motion of dust particles in plasma systems in the atmosphere of Mars can lead to the detection of oscillations and waves, which, in particular, can be detected from the surface of the planet. The presence of local magnetic fields leads to significant inhomogeneities in the ionosphere of Mars, especially noticeable on the night side. On the night side of the ionosphere, there are areas of sharp increase in electron concentrations in areas where the lines of force of the magnetic field are perpendicular to the surface of the planet. In the areas where the magnetic field is parallel to the surface, the electrons of the solar wind do not penetrate the atmosphere and there is no ionization. Horizontal gradients of electron density on the night side can exceed 10 ^ 4 cm ^ -3 for several tens of kilometers. Such high plasma density gradients lead to local plasma transfer perpendicular to the external magnetic field, horizontal currents and electric fields are generated. Interaction of the plasma of the solar wind with a plasma containing dust particles can lead to the generation of high-frequency waves.</p><p>The work is supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project No 18-72-00119).</p>