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Thin Current Sheets of Sub-Ion Scales Observed by MAVEN in the Martian MagnetotailCurrent sheets (CSs) play a crucial role in the storage and conversion of magnetic energy in planetary magnetotails. Using high‐resolution magnetic field data from MAVEN spacecraft, we report the existence of super thin current sheets (STCSs) in the Martian magnetotail. The typical half‐thickness of the STCSs is ~5 km, and it is much less than the gyroradius of thermal protons (ρp). The STCSs are embedded into a thicker sheet with L ≥ ρp forming a multiscale current configuration. The formation of STCS does not depend on ion composition, but it is controlled by the small value of the normal component of the magnetic field at the neutral plane (BN). A number of the observed multiscale CSs are located in the parametric map close to the tearing‐unstable domain, and thus, the inner STCS can provide an additional free energy to excite ion tearing mode in the Martian magnetotail.
Document ID
20190031792
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Grigorenko, E. E.
(Institute of Space Research Moscow, Russian Federation)
Zelenyi, L. M.
(Institute of Space Research Moscow, Russian Federation)
DiBraccio, G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Ermakov, V. N.
(Institute of Space Research Moscow, Russian Federation)
Shuvalov, S. D.
(Institute of Space Research Moscow, Russian Federation)
Malova, H. V.
(Institute of Space Research Moscow, Russian Federation)
Popov, V. Y.
(Institute of Space Research Moscow, Russian Federation)
Halekas, J. S.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Mitchell, D. L.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Dubinin, E.
(Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung Göttingen, Germany)
Date Acquired
September 26, 2019
Publication Date
June 20, 2019
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 46
Issue: 12
ISSN: 0094-8276
e-ISSN: 1944-8007
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN73224
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Technical Review
Single Expert
Keywords
Martian
Magnetotail
Scales

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