Expectations for the microphysics of the Mars-solar wind interaction

Abstract

The two Phobos spacecraft, which will start to orbit Mars early in 1989, will be capable of investigating in detail the microphysics of the Mars-solar wind interaction. Simple scaling arguments and analogies with other planetary bow shocks indicate that the sub-solar shock standoff distance should be small compared with plasma scalelengths, giving the shocked solar wind insufficient space in which to thermalize downstream before encountering the magnetospheric obstacle. Both the magnetosphere and ionosphere can be affected by particles and waves from the solar wind interaction.