Forces, electric fields and currents at the subsolar martian MPB: MAVEN observations and multifluid MHD simulation

The Martian MPB (Magnetic Pileup Boundary) is a key boundary in the Mars/Solar Wind interaction as it is here that part of the momentum and energy from the solar wind plasma are transferred to the planetary plasma. Since this interaction is for the most part collisionless, the transfer is mediated by electric and magnetic fields. The acceleration processes and the interaction of particles with electromagnetic fields operate at spatial scales determined by the ambient particle populations. In particular, in regions with sizes of the order of the ion inertial length (ion scales), the Hall electric field is expected to be dominant.