The IMF control of the Martian bow shock and plasma flow in the magnetosheath. Predictions of 3-D simulations and observations

Recent three-dimensional simulations of the Martian plasma and magnetic fie ld environment found some unique effects-a strong asymmetry of the bow shoc k and the magnetic field draping, asymmetry of plasma inflow to the wake, f ormation of secondary shocks near the boundary of the magnetospheric cavity . The predictions of the models are testified using the Phobos-2 data. It i s shown, that, although, the models reproduce some features of the bow shoc k and plasma flow around the planet, the real picture appears to be more va riable and complicated. We suppose that addition of planetary plasma origin ated from the atmosphere/exosphere and effects of mass-loading is necessary modification of three-dimensional models.