MHD simulation of solar wind interaction with Mars and comparison with MAVEN observations
Abstract
Since Mars has no global intrinsic magnetic field, the solar wind plasma interacts with the Martian upper atmosphere/ionosphere in a more direct manner. Therefore, it is important to incorporate ionospheric processes into global interaction models so that ionospheric responses/changes can be captured self-consistently. There are two well-known numerical challenges in modeling the global interaction of the solar wind with Mars: 1) resolve the ionospheric structure with sufficient radial resolution; and 2) include the effect of the Martian crustal field. Various missions to Mars, especially the ongoing MAVEN mission, provide excellent datasets to improve our understanding of solar wind interactions with Mars and to validate numerical models of Mars. In this presentation, we will discuss some recent advances in MHD modeling efforts, including time dependent MHD, multi-fluid MHD, multi-fluid MHD with electronic pressure equations, and global MHD with embedded PIC model, and the comparison with spacecraft observation.
- Publication:
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44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 16-24 July
- Pub Date:
- July 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022cosp...44..936M