Plasma induced atmospheric escape at Mars - A synthesis of Mars Express observations and theory

该提案的总体科学目标是研究火星大气与行星际介质的相互作用。将要进行的研究将解决一个基本问题，即太阳风和电磁场对行星大气层的影响有多大？它直接关系到火星脱水的基本问题，以及火星上过去是否存在生命的问题。如果水是由于太阳风直接暴露在大气层中而流失的，那么清除行星物质的机制是什么？这个基本问题的答案不仅需要在行星表面寻找水的痕迹（火星勘测者任务的重要任务），而且还需要研究水流出的机制。另一方面，太阳风不仅带走大气成分，而且还能将其物质存款到大气中。因此，太阳风/火星相互作用的研究成为一个基本的跨学科问题。拟议调查的全球目标是提供一个连贯的画面，说明能量如何从太阳风转移到地球周围地区，并澄清其对地球大气的环境影响。我们计划通过分析ASPERA-3实验将在火星快车上进行的测量来研究这个问题。从Nozomi航天器获取数据将进一步提高研究的潜力。研究的最终成果将是行星大气逃逸的物理模型，该模型综合了理论、观测和模拟。

The general scientific objective of the proposal is the study of the interaction of the Martian atmosphere with the interplanetary medium. The investigations to be performed will address the fundamental question, how strongly does the solar wind and electromagnetic fields affect the planetary atmosphere? It directly relates to the basic problem of Martian dehydration and the question of whether or not life existed on Mars in the past. If the water was lost due to the direct exposure of the atmosphere by the solar wind, what are the mechanisms of scavenging planetary matter? The answer to this fundamental question requires not only a search of water traces on the planetary surface (the important task of Mars Surveyor missions) but also the study of mechanisms for water outflow. On the other hand, the solar wind not only carries away atmospheric constituents, but can also deposit its matter into the atmosphere. Thus, the study of the solar wind/Mars interaction becomes a fundamental interdisciplinary problem. The global objective of the proposed investigation is to provide a coherent picture how energy is transferred from the solar wind to surrounding regions of the planet and to clarify its environmental effects on the planetary atmosphere. We plan to study this problem by an analysis of the measurements that will be performed on Mars Express by the ASPERA-3 experiment. Access to the data from the Nozomi spacecraft will enhance further the potential of the research. The final product of the research will be a physical model of the escape of the planetary atmosphere, which synthesizes theory, observations and simulations.