Solar Control of the Pickup Ion Plume in the Dayside Magnetosheath of Venus

Using the 8.5-year Venus Express measurements, we demonstrate the asymmetric plasma distributions in the Venusian magnetosheath. An escaping plume is formed by pickup oxygen ions in the hemisphere where the motional electric field points outward from Venus, while the velocity of solar wind protons is faster in the opposite hemisphere. The pickup O+ escape rate is estimated to be (3.6 +/- 1.4) x 10(24) s(-1) at solar maximum, which is comparable to the ion loss rate through the magnetotail, and (1.3 +/- 0.4) x 10(24) s(-1) at solar minimum. The increase of O+ fluxes with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) intensity is significant upstream of the bow shock, partially attributed to the increase of exospheric neutral oxygen density. However, the solar wind velocity just has a slight effect on the pickup O+ escape rate in the magnetosheath, while the effect of solar wind density is not observed. Our results suggest the pickup O+ escape rate is mainly controlled by EUV radiation.

Automated summary

Using 8.5-year measurements from Venus Express, we discovered asymmetric plasma distributions in the Venusian magnetosheath. A plume of pickup oxygen ions forms in the hemisphere where the motional electric field points outward, while solar wind protons move faster in the opposite hemisphere. The escape rate of pickup O+ ions is mainly controlled by EUV radiation.