Observation of foreshock structures during near-radial IMF conditions at Mars

According to different properties of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), two types of bowshocks are distinguished: quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular. Foreshock is the region upstream of the quasi-parallel bowshock where various plasma structures are forming. In this research, we perform a case study of structures in the foreshock region at Mars observed by Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN). We use data of plasma analyzer STATIC and magnetometer MAG to analyze ion beams energy spectrum and magnetic field dynamics. We show that the observed structures are consistent with Short Large-Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS), commonly detected in foreshock regions of magnetized and unmagnetized bodies throughout the Solar system. We show that SLAMS are formed by the resonance between plasma waves propagating along the IMF and the backstreaming scattered solar wind and exosphere ions. Finally, we analyze magnetic Mach number to analyze shock characteristics of the observed foreshock structures.