EPP

Doubly charged positive ions (dications) are an important component of planetary ionospheres because of the large energy required for their formation. Observations of these ions are exceptionally difficult due to their low abundances; until now, only atomic dications have been detected. The Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) measurements made on board the recent Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission provide the first opportunity for decisive detection of molecular dications, CO₂⁺⁺ in this case, in a planetary upper atmosphere. The NGIMS data reveal a dayside averaged CO₂⁺⁺ distribution declining steadily from 5.6 cm⁻³ at 160 km to below 1 cm⁻³ above 200 km. The dominant CO₂⁺⁺ production mechanisms are double photoionization of CO₂ below 190 km and single photoionization of CO₂⁺ at higher altitudes; CO₂⁺⁺ destruction is dominated by natural dissociation, but reactions with atmospheric CO₂ and O become important below 160 km. Simplified photochemical model calculations are carried out and reasonably reproduce the data at low altitudes within a factor of 2 but underestimate the data at high altitudes by a factor of 4. Finally, we report a much stronger solar control of the CO₂⁺⁺ density than of the CO₂⁺ density .

Solar Wind (SW) electron precipitation is able to deposit a substantial amount of energy in the nightside Martian upper atmosphere, potentially exerting an influence on its thermal structure. This study serves as the first investigation of such an issue, with the aid of the simultaneous measurements of both neutral density and energetic electron intensity made on board the recent Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft. We report that, from a statistical point of view, the existing measurements do not support a scenario of noticeable neutral heating via SW electron precipitation. However, during 3%−4% of the MAVEN orbits for which data are available, strong correlation between nightside temperature and electron intensity is observed, manifested as collocated enhancements in both parameters, as compared to the surrounding regions. In addition, our analysis also indicates that neutral heating via SW electron precipitation tends to be more effective at altitudes below 160 km for integrated electron intensities above 0.01 ergs·cm⁻²·s⁻¹ over the energy range of 3−450 eV. The results reported here highlight the necessity of incorporating SW electron precipitation as a heat source in the nightside Martian upper atmosphere under extreme circumstances such as during interplanetary coronal mass ejections.

O⁺⁺ is an interesting species in the ionospheres of both the Earth and Venus. Recent measurements made by the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS) on board the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft provide the first firm detection of O⁺⁺ in the Martian ionosphere. This study is devoted to an evaluation of the dominant O⁺⁺ production and destruction channels in the dayside Martian ionosphere, by virtue of NGIMS data accumulated over a large number of MAVEN orbits. Our analysis reveals the dominant production channels to be double photoionization of O at low altitudes and photoionization of O⁺ at high altitudes, respectively, in response to the varying degree of O ionization. O⁺⁺ destruction is shown to occur mainly via charge exchange with CO₂ at low altitudes and with O at high altitudes. In the dayside median sense, an exact balance between O⁺⁺ production and destruction is suggested by the data below 200 km. The apparent discrepancy from local photochemical equilibrium at higher altitudes is interpreted as a signature of strong O⁺⁺ escape on Mars, characterized by an escape rate of 6×10²² s^–1.