A linearized coupled model of acoustic-gravity waves and the lower ionosphere at Mars

¹ State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa 999078, Macao, PR China
e-mail: xjxu@must.edu.mo
² State Key Laboratory of Space Weather, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
³ Planetary Environmental and Astrobiological Research Laboratory (PEARL), School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, PR China
⁴ Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230026, PR China
⁵ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China

Received: 12 December 2023
Accepted: 5 June 2024

Abstract

Context. Highly variable ionospheric structures were recently detected on Mars using spacecraft measurements. Acoustic-gravity waves (AGWs) could be the underlying mechanism. Studying the response of the Martian ionosphere to AGWs could provide us with an important understanding of the neutral wave-ionospheric coupling processes.

Aims. We developed a linearized wave model to explore the plasma-neutral coupling driven by AGWs in the lower ionosphere of Mars. This model can describe the propagation and dissipation of AGWs in a realistic atmosphere and is the first of its kind to incorporate plasma behaviors associated with photochemistry and electromagnetic fields.

Methods. We adopted a full-wave model as the first part of our coupled model to delineate wave propagation in a realistic atmosphere. The second part of our model consists of the governing equations describing the plasma behaviors. Therefore, our model not only replicates the result of the full-wave model, but can also be used to investigate the wave-driven variations in the plasma velocity and density, electromagnetic field, and thermal structures.

Results. Our model results reveal that ions are mainly dragged by neutrals and oscillate along the wave phase line below ~200 km altitude. Electrons are primarily subject to gyro-motion along the magnetic field lines. The wave-driven distinct motions among charged particles can generate the perturbed electric current and electric field, further contributing to localized magnetic field fluctuations. Major charged constituents, including electrons, O⁺, O₂⁺, and CO₂⁺, have higher density amplitudes when interacting with waves of larger periods. The presence of photochemistry leads to a decrease in the plasma density amplitude, and there exists a moderate correlation between the density variations of plasma and those of neutrals. Our numerical results indicate that the wave-driven variations range from several percent to ~80% in the plasma density and from ~0.2% to 17% in the magnetic field, values that are consistent with the spacecraft observations. Further calculations reveal that the wave-induced plasma–neutral coupling can heat the neutrals yet cool the plasmas. Electrons are cooler than ions in the coupling process. The wave-driven heating by neutral–ion collisions exceeds that by neutral-electron collisions but tends to be lower than the wave dissipative heating and photochemical heating. Our model has potential applications in studying the AGW-driven variable ionospheric structures and can be used for other planets.