Steepened magnetosonic waves at the proton cyclotron frequency and SLAMs upstream from the Martian bow shock

MAZELLE, CHRISTIAN; BERTUCCI, CESAR

Congreso; EGU General Assembly 2010; 2010

The observation of low frequency waves at the cyclotron frequency of an ion species in the vicinity of a solar system body surrounded by a neutral atmosphere or exosphere reveals its micro-scale interaction with the solar wind. We present results on the nonlinear waves observed upstream from the Martian bow shock, steepened magnetosonic waves and slams (short large amplitude magnetic strutures) in the solar wind and the foreshock of Mars. Comparison with similar waves observed inside the Earth's foreshock or around comets is discussed.