The Influence of Solar Irradiation and Solar Wind Conditions on Heavy
Ion Escape From Mars
Abstract
We apply a recently proposed method to estimate heavy ion escape from
Mars. The method combines in situ observations with a hybrid plasma
model, which treats ions as particles and electrons as a fluid. With
this method, we investigate how solar upstream conditions, including
solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation, solar wind dynamic pressure,
and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) strength and cone angle, affect
the heavy ion loss. The results indicate that the heavy ion escape rate
is greater in high EUV conditions. The escape rate increases with
increasing solar wind dynamic pressure, and decreases as the IMF
strength increases. The ion escape rate is highest when the solar wind
is parallel to the IMF and lowest when they are perpendicular. The plume
escape rate decreases when the solar wind convective electric field
increases.