Nightside Martian Ionosphere Produced by Electron Impact Ionization

Based on the Martian magnetic field model established by magnetohydrodynamics simulation, we determine the possible precipitation areas of the solar wind electron in the nightside Martian atmosphere, and analyze the electron impact ionization to estimate the height of the nightside Martian ionospheric peak and the electron density profile using the energy flux analysis method. The influences of the single electron energy, electron energy density and ionization efficiency on the altitude of the ionospheric peak and the electron density profile are also investigated. Our results show that the solar wind electron moves along the V-shaped solar wind magnetic field lines, to precipitate into the Martian atmosphere. Due to the crustal magnetic field, the precipitation regions on the nightside are quite narrow and unstable. The impact ionization happens at the altitude of 130–500 km, and the height of the ionospheric peak is around 170km, with a peak electron density of 3.0 × 103 cm−3. The simulation results are consistent with the results from Mars 4/5 and Viking occultation measurements.