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The present study provides an evidence for the generation of harmonics of magnetosonic waves in the Martian magnetosheath region. The wave signatures are manifested in the magnetic field measurements recorded by the fluxgate magnetometer instrument onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution missioN (MAVEN) spacecraft in the dawn sector around 5–10 LT at an altitude of 4,000–6,000 kms. The wave that is observed continuously from 19.1 to 20.7 UT below the proton cyclotron frequency (fci ≈ 46 mHz) is identified as fundamental mode of the magnetosonic wave. Whereas harmonics of the magnetosonic wave are observed during 19.7–20.3 UT at frequencies that are multiple of fci. The ambient solar wind proton density and plasma flow velocity are found to vary with a fundamental mode frequency of 46 mHz. It is noticed that the fundamental mode is mainly associated with the left‐hand (LH), and higher frequency harmonics are associated with the right‐hand (RH) circular polarizations. A clear difference in the polarization and ellipticity is noticed during the time of occurrence of harmonics. The magnetosonic wave harmonics are found to propagate in the quasi‐perpendicular directions to the ambient magnetic field. The results of linear theory and Particle‐In‐Cell simulation performed here are in agreement with the observations. The present study provides a conclusive evidence for the occurrence of harmonics of magnetosonic wave in the close vicinity of the magnetosheath region of the unmagnetized planet Mars. Plain Language Summary: Mars is an unmagnetized planet. The solar wind particles that bombard Mars continuously, are responsible for the loss of its atmosphere. This scenario is opposite to that of the Earth, as its strong intrinsic magnetic field forms a protective shield around the planet, called the magnetosphere. Various electrostatic/electromagnetic waves are often generated in the Earth's magnetosphere, which are potential candidates for controlling the transfer of energy and momentum from one region to another. In case of Mars, it possesses a weakly induced magnetosphere, which is dynamic due to its continuous interactions with solar wind. The field measurements from the MAVEN spacecraft can be used to understand plasma waves in the vicinity of Mars. Here, we report the first observations of the harmonics of magnetosonic wave in the Martian magnetosheath region. The magnetosonic waves are low‐frequency compressive waves driven by the ions in the presence of magnetic field. These waves are known to play a role in the particle heating process in the Earth's magnetosphere. Therefore, its observation in the Martian plasma environment is of interest to the scientific community to understand their role in plasma heating in the Martian ionosphere‐magnetosphere system. Key Points: Harmonics of Magnetosonic wave are observed in the Martian magnetosphere in dawn sector (5–10 LT)Magnetosonic harmonics dominantly have right‐handed polarizationAmbient proton density and velocity found to vary with fundamental mode frequency of 46 mHz [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low latitude ionosphere and thermosphere are strongly disturbed during and shortly after geomagnetic storms. We use novel Jicamarca radar measurements, ACE satellite solar wind, and SuperMAG geomagnetic field observations to study the electrodynamic response of the equatorial ionosphere to the 23, 24 April 2023 geomagnetic storm. We also compare our data with results from previous experimental and modeling studies of equatorial storm-time electrodynamics. We show, for the first time, unusually large equatorial vertical and zonal plasma drift (zonal and meridional electric field) perturbations driven simultaneously by multi storm-time electric field mechanisms during both the storm main and recovery phases. These include daytime undershielding and overshielding prompt penetration electric fields driven by solar wind electric fields and dynamic pressure changes, substorms, as well as disturbance dynamo electric fields, which are not well reproduced by current empirical models. Our nighttime measurements, over an extended period of large and slowly decreasing southward IMF Bz, show very large, substorm-driven, vertical and zonal drift fluctuations superposed on large undershield driven upward and westward drifts up to about 01 LT, and the occurrence of equatorial spread F irregularities with very strong spatial and temporal structuring. These nighttime observations cannot be explained by present models of equatorial storm-time electrodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent observations of ion beams moving out from Saturn’s plasma environment hints at the generation of ion Bernsteinâ€"Greeneâ€"Kruskal (BGK) modes. As the plasma environments of Saturn and its moon Enceladus are characterized by the ubiquitous presence of massive negatively charged dust particles, the existing BGK theory for electron-ion plasma models cannot address this scenario. This manuscript develops a theoretical model for studying ion BGK modes in dusty plasmas. The analysis reveals that the presence of dust in the plasma enhances the stability of BGK modes. As the dust density increases, the effect of other parameters on stability, such as the electron temperature, becomes negligible. The model is developed by assuming that electrons and ions follow a kappa distribution, featuring a long tail trend in the superthermal component, in agreement with observations. Different scenarios with either electrons or ions obeying a Maxwell or kappa distribution function have been considered. A thorough analysis of the trapped ion distribution function considering various combinations indicates that a plasma where electrons are in thermal equilibrium and ions follow kappa distribution is the least favorable system for the generation of BGK modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]