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arXiv · 2008.10029

Effect of Incoming Solar Particle Radiations on The Exosphere of Mars

Kamsali Nagaraja·Praveen Kumar Basuvaraj·S. C. Chakravarty·Praveen Kumar Kuttanpillai
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Abstract

Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer (MENCA) of Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) measures the \emph{in-situ} neutral upper atmospheric constituents of Mars. Martian lower atmosphere predominated by the presence of $CO_2$ which photo-dissociates into atomic oxygen ($O$) in higher altitudes much near the exobase. Atomic $O$ plays a significant role in invoking the stronger presence of $O_2^+$ in the Martian ionosphere. Primary photo-dissociative species $CO_{2}$, crossover their neutral abundance with atomic $O$ in the collisionless heterogenous atmosphere with varying local solar conditions. Initial measurements from Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) instrument on Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) estimated these crossover/transition altitudes wavering between $\approx$225 km to 240 km during solar maximum conditions with peak solar illuminations. MENCA sampled the neutral atmospheric species, below the exobase up to the periareion of $\approx$160 km, under low solar activity conditions during June 2018. Observations of partial pressures of $CO_2$ and $O$ in subsequent orbits reveals that solar inputs are crucial in quantifying these crossing points, where $[O]/[CO_2]$ remain unity, alongside the influences from temperature. The multi-spacecraft measurements of the direct influences of solar wind charged particle fluxes and velocity on the daily variation of neutral thermospheric/exospheric compositions were observed on the local evening hours of Mars and presented. It marks the first-ever direct \emph{in-situ} observation of interaction between the energetic solar particle radiations on Martian exospheric compositions, potentially contributing to the steady escape and differing population of atomic $[O]$ in the exosphere.

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Kamsali Nagaraja, Praveen Kumar Basuvaraj, S. C. Chakravarty, Praveen Kumar Kuttanpillai. 2020-08-23. Effect of Incoming Solar Particle Radiations on The Exosphere of Mars. https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.10029

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