Plasma waves

The researchers at Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have examined the existence of high-frequency plasma waves in the Martian plasma environment.

IIG is an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology.

• Plasma waves – A type of electromagnetic wave that propagates through plasma, a state of matter.

Plasma is formed when a gas is heated to high temperatures or subjected to strong electric fields, causing its atoms to become ionised by either losing or gaining electrons.

• In earth – It is observed in the Earth’s magnetosphere as a short-time scale fluctuations in the electric and magnetic field.
• Role – In the energization and transport of the charged particles in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
• Some act as a cleaning agent for the Earth’s radiation belt, which is hazardous to our satellites.
  • Example: Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves

Plasma waves in Mars

• Recent Study – It was carried out by IIG scientists in collaboration with scientists from Japan, USA, and UAE to understand the existence of plasma waves in unmagnetized planets like Mars.

Mars does not have any intrinsic magnetic field therefore the high-speed solar wind coming from the Sun interacts directly with the Mars atmosphere, like an obstacle in the flow.

• Observation – By using high-resolution electric field data from the MAVEN spacecraft of NASA when it crossed the magnetopause boundary and entered the magnetosheath region.
• Cause – It could be due to electron oscillations with respect to the background magnetic field in the magnetosheath region of the Mars.
  • Langmuir waves – Parallel oscillations
  • Upper-hybrid type waves – Perpendicular oscillations
• 2 distinct wave modes – Either broadband or narrowband type with distinguishable features in the frequency domain.
• Significance – It provides a tool to explore how electrons gain or dissipate energy in the Martian plasma environment.