Characteristic of Ion loss as Determined by Hybrid Simulations

One of the major objectives of the MAVEN mission is to determine the loss rate of oxygen ions from the atmosphere of Mars. It is thought that the oxygen ion loss represents a conduit for the loss of water from Mars. However, the actual measurements and estimates of global loss rates are very difficult because one needs an average over many orbits and full coverage of the loss regions of Mars; something that MAVEN will only accomplish with an extended mission. In the meantime global kinetic simulations are an avenue to gain further insight into the loss process and perhaps offer insight into the data analysis that will be performed on the MAVEN data. Hybrid particle codes provide self-consistent simulations of the ion dynamics occurring when the solar wind interacts with Mars. This paper reports the results of HALFSHEL hybrid code simulations of the solar wind interaction with Mars and the subsequent loss of oxygen ions in the form of O+ and O2+. Four simulations were performed representing different orientations of the crustal magnetic fields with the subsolar regions using a solar EUV flux representative of the moderate solar activity experienced by MAVEN. Loss rates will be presented as will evaluations of the distribution functions of the various loss ion species as accumulated at roughly 2 Rm for each of the four simulations. The results will be presented as faces on a box surrounding Mars so that one can evaluate regions such as that of the measured plasma plume. The plume feature has now been measured and is often seen in simulations. Finally, the losses and the subsequent velocity distributions will be compared between the various crustal magnetic field orientations. In summary, results from the HALFSHEL hybrid code will be presented. These results will address characteristics of the oxygen ions lost from Mars as a function of crustal magnetic field orientation. Further, they will be compared with respect to the regions surrounding Mars and the associated velocity distribution functions.