Plasma waves

The researchers at Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have examined the existence of high-frequency plasma waves in the Martian plasma environment.

IIG is an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology.

Plasma waves – A type of electromagnetic wave that propagates through plasma, a state of matter.

Plasma is formed when a gas is heated to high temperatures or subjected to strong electric fields, causing its atoms to become ionised by either losing or gaining electrons.

In earth – It is observed in the Earth’s magnetosphere as a short-time scale fluctuations in the electric and magnetic field.
Role – In the energization and transport of the charged particles in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
Some act as a cleaning agent for the Earth’s radiation belt, which is hazardous to our satellites.
- Example: Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves

Plasma waves in Mars

Recent Study – It was carried out by IIG scientists in collaboration with scientists from Japan, USA, and UAE to understand the existence of plasma waves in unmagnetized planets like Mars.

Mars does not have any intrinsic magnetic field therefore the high-speed solar wind coming from the Sun interacts directly with the Mars atmosphere, like an obstacle in the flow.

Observation – By using high-resolution electric field data from the MAVEN spacecraft of NASA when it crossed the magnetopause boundary and entered the magnetosheath region.
Cause – It could be due to electron oscillations with respect to the background magnetic field in the magnetosheath region of the Mars.
- Langmuir waves – Parallel oscillations
- Upper-hybrid type waves – Perpendicular oscillations
2 distinct wave modes – Either broadband or narrowband type with distinguishable features in the frequency domain.
Significance – It provides a tool to explore how electrons gain or dissipate energy in the Martian plasma environment.

Source: pib

Join Our Telegram

Wetland City Accreditation

Supreme Court Judgments in 2023

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a and MASS EXTINCTION

25 Dec, 24
SHARE

Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a from the Paris Basin (Environment) Paper-3 PMP OAE 1a refers to a period during the Cretaceous Period (145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago) when Earth's oceans became depleted of oxygen, causing a significant disruption in marine life. Cause: The event is believed to have been

Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi (Good governance)

26 Dec, 24
SHARE

Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi (Good governance) Governance GS PAPER-2 PMP Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the ‘Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi’ initiative on Good Governance Day, celebrated to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The initiative, which is part of the broader ‘Prashasan Gaon

Major programmes to control Air Pollution

23 Dec, 24
SHARE

Major programmes to control Air Pollution National Clean Air Programme? It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019. It is the first-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target. The

Air pollution and Air quality Measures in India

21 Dec, 24
SHARE

Air pollution and Air quality Measures in India (Environment) GS Paper-3 P-M-P Air pollution may be defined as the presence of any solid, liquid or gaseous substance including noise and radioactive radiation in the atmosphere in such concentration that may be directly and/or indirectly injurious to humans or other l

Geopolitical Significance of Ports

20 Dec, 24
SHARE

Geopolitical Significance of Ports (IR) Act as geopolitical assets: Ports enhance the projection of strategic reach, which helps strengthen the country’s control over important sea and energy supply routes. E.g. Indian Navy’s staging base at Agalega Islands will enable marine patrols