Joint Observation of a Series of Magnetic Holes by Tianwen-1 and MAVEN on Mars

Abstract

Magnetic holes (MHs) are transient magnetic structures responsible for energy conversion in space plasma. Using single-spacecraft measurements from Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN), the existence of MHs on Mars has been confirmed. However, due to the limitations of single-spacecraft observations, significant uncertainty also arises on the identification of the spatial scale and 3D geometry of MHs. In this study, we report a series of MHs successively detected by Tianwen-1 near the high-latitude magnetopause and by the MAVEN spacecraft near the subsolar magnetopause. The large separation between Tianwen-1 and MAVEN (∼4 R _M ) suggests these MHs are macroscale structures extending along the axial direction. Additionally, we observe whistler waves generated by electron perpendicular anisotropy in one of the macroscale MHs. This study is the first joint observation of Martian MHs, shedding light on the research of transient magnetic structures on Mars.

Keywords

• Mars
• Solar wind
• Space plasmas