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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • Venus Express
  • magnetosheath
  • mirror mode waves

Index Terms

  • Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets: Magnetospheres
  • Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Venus
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosheath
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma waves and instabilities
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Solar wind interactions with unmagnetized bodies

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 35, L12204, 6 PP., 2008
doi:10.1029/2008GL033621

First identification of mirror mode waves in Venus' magnetosheath?

M. Volwerk

Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria

T. L. Zhang

Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria

M. Delva

Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria

Z. Vörös

Institute for Astro- and Particle Physics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

W. Baumjohann

Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria

K.-H. Glassmeier

Institut für Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität, Braunschweig, Germany

In this paper first time observations of mirror mode like structures in Venus' magnetosheath are presented. Using magnetometer data from the Venus Express spacecraft it is shown that in two regions in the Venusian magnetosheath strong compressional waves exist, which propagate nearly perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. They are most likely mirror-mode waves. The waves have periods between 5 and 15 sec, depending on the location in the magnetosheath. These waves show up just behind the quasi-perpendicular bow shock, and near the magnetopause during compression of the magnetosheath due to increased solar wind pressure. The characteristics of the waves are similar to mirror mode waves found in the Earth's magnetosheath, however, they are down-scaled in duration and frequency by a factor of 10, comparable with the difference in size of Venus' and Earth's magnetosheath.

Received 13 February 2008; accepted 23 April 2008; published 24 June 2008.

Citation: Volwerk, M., T. L. Zhang, M. Delva, Z. Vörös, W. Baumjohann, and K.-H. Glassmeier (2008), First identification of mirror mode waves in Venus' magnetosheath?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L12204, doi:10.1029/2008GL033621.

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