The Role of the Martian Crustal Magnetic Fields in controlling ionospheric dynamics

This paper will present the latest results of high resolution 3-D hybrid particle code simulations of Mars. The research is focused on understanding the solar wind interaction with Mars and the subsequent ionospheric losses that occur as a consequence of this loss. It has been found that the loss rate of the Martian ionosphere is directly controlled by the crustal magnetic fields. This presentation will address our current research into the solar wind interaction with Mars' ionosphere and crustal fields. The hybrid particle code HALFSHEL contains a variety of physical and chemical models which will also be discussed. These include a chemistry package that produces the ionosphere on grid resolution of 10 km altitude, as well as the Hall and Pedersen conductivities associated with plasma neutral collisions. And more recently the inclusion of a crustal magnetic field model. The specific simulations to be presented self-consistently evolve the motion of the solar wind protons, and ionospheric ions; O+ and O2+.