Suprathermal Electrons in the Plasma Environments of Mars and Venus

Abstract:

Suprathermal electrons have been measured in situ at every planet in the solar system, as well as at many smaller solar system bodies. They are hallmarks of heating, acceleration, or non-equilibrium processes occurring in any plasma, and planets are no exception. After introducing the many planetary measurements that have been made over time, this presentation will focus on a subset of electron measurements from Mars and Venus made over the last decade. At Mars, suprathermal electrons are used as diagnostics of auroral acceleration in small-scale crustal fields, and the magnetic topology of the crustal fields. At Venus, electron energy distributions are used to map the ionosphere, revealing previously unknown asymmetries. The presentation will close with a brief discussion of prospects for future and ongoing planetary electron measurements.