HR: 0800h
AN: SA31B-03    [Abstracts]
TI: Mars Global Surveyor Nightside Electron Observations
AU: * Halekas, J S
EM: jazzman@ssl.berkeley.edu
AF: Space Sciences Laboratory, 7 Gauss Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
AU: Brain, D A
EM: brain@ssl.berkeley.edu
AF: Space Sciences Laboratory, 7 Gauss Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
AU: Lin, R P
EM: rlin@ssl.berkeley.edu
AF: Space Sciences Laboratory, 7 Gauss Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
AU: Luhmann, J G
EM: jgluhman@ssl.berkeley.edu
AF: Space Sciences Laboratory, 7 Gauss Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
AU: Mitchell, D L
EM: mitchell@ssl.berkeley.edu
AF: Space Sciences Laboratory, 7 Gauss Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
AB: We present observations of electrons above the Martian night side, using data from the Mars Global Surveyor Electron Reflectometer. These electron observations allow us to investigate fundamental space physics at Mars. Electron angular distributions allow us to understand the constantly evolving Martian magnetic field topology. Energized electron distributions observed in remanent magnetic field cusps and near crossings of the induced magnetotail current sheet inform us about Martian physical processes which may be analogous to those observed in the terrestrial auroral zone, magnetospheric cusp, and plasma sheet. Anisotropic electron distributions commonly observed near the current sheet (but also in other regions) allow us to trace magnetic connectivity to the solar wind by tracking the anisotropic suprathermal electron population from the solar wind to the Martian night side (as previously demonstrated using Phobos data). Detailed investigation of electron angular and energy distributions may also allow us to investigate other fundamental space physics processes, including wave particle interactions.
DE: 2459 Planetary ionospheres (5435, 5729, 6026)
DE: 2756 Planetary magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6033)
DE: 5421 Interactions with particles and fields
DE: 5440 Magnetic fields and magnetism
DE: 6225 Mars
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly