Mass loading in the solar wind interaction with Venus and Mars

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Abstract
An analysis of available experimental data and theoretical concepts indicates that the interaction of the solar wind (SW) on the subsolar side with Venus, which has no intrinsic magnetic field, and with Mars, which has a small intrinsic magnetic field, is determined by the solar wind dynamic pressure with a contribution from the neutral planetary atmosphere to this interaction. The pattern of the SW interaction with these planets is different in principle for high and low dynamic pressures of the SW and is related to the varying intensity of ion formation processes (the SW Mass loading effect) in the vicinity of the SW obstacle boundary, which moves for different SW dynamic pressures into regions of different neutral atmosphere density. For moderate or high SW dynamic pressures, the subsolar Martian magnetosphere is also affected by this process. Results of numerical simulations of the SW‐Mars interaction for a magnetospheric obstacle boundary at an altitude of 300 km are presented. To estimate the relative role of photoionization and charge exchange processes and their effect on the shock front position, different versions of the mass loading effect were separately calculated.

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