Mechanisms controlling asymmetries in the Martian magnetosheath

Identify the physical mechanisms that control the asymmetries observed between the quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular regions of the Martian magnetosheath.

Background

Beyond establishing whether asymmetries exist, understanding their drivers is critical for interpreting mass and energy transfer from the solar wind to Mars’ induced magnetosphere. While shock geometry is known to influence magnetosheath properties at Earth, Mars’ environment includes additional complexities such as planetary heavy ions and kinetic effects linked to its relatively thin magnetosheath.

The authors explicitly pose this as an unresolved question, motivating further investigation into how different mechanisms (e.g., shock geometry, ion mass loading, current sheets, kinetic processes) contribute to Martian asymmetries.