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Evidence of Sub-proton-scale Magnetic Holes in the Venusian Magnetosheath
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  • Katherine Amanda Goodrich,
  • John W. Bonnell,
  • Shannon M. Curry,
  • Roberto Livi,
  • Phyllis Whittlesey,
  • Forrest Mozer,
  • Marc Pulupa,
  • David M. Malaspina,
  • Stuart d Bale,
  • Trevor A Bowen,
  • Anthony William Case,
  • Thierry Dudok de Wit,
  • Keith Goetz,
  • Peter R Harvey,
  • Jasper S. Halekas,
  • Justin C. Kasper,
  • Davin E. Larson,
  • Robert John MacDowall,
  • Michael D McManus,
  • Michael Louis Stevens
Katherine Amanda Goodrich
University of California, Berkeley

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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John W. Bonnell
University of California
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Shannon M. Curry
UC Berkeley
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Roberto Livi
University of California, Berkeley
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Phyllis Whittlesey
University of California, Berkeley
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Forrest Mozer
University of California, Berkeley
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Marc Pulupa
Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley
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David M. Malaspina
University of Colorado Boulder
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Stuart d Bale
Unversity of California, Berkeley
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Trevor A Bowen
Space Sciences Laboratory
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Anthony William Case
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
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Thierry Dudok de Wit
CNRS and University of Orléans
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Keith Goetz
University of Minnesota
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Peter R Harvey
University of California, Berkeley
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Jasper S. Halekas
University of Iowa
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Justin C. Kasper
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Davin E. Larson
University of California, Berkeley
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Robert John MacDowall
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Michael D McManus
University of California, Berkeley
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Michael Louis Stevens
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
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Abstract

Depressions in magnetic field strength, commonly referred to as magnetic holes, are observed ubiquitously in space plasmas. Sub-proton-scale magnetic holes with spatial scales smaller than or on the order of $\rho_p$, are likely supported by electron currents vortices, rotating perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. While there are numerous accounts of sub-proton-scale magnetic holes within the Earth’s magnetosphere, there are no reported observations in other space plasma environments. We present the first evidence of sub-proton-scale magnetic holes in the Venusian magnetosheath. During Parker Solar Probe’s first Venus Gravity Assist, the spacecraft crossed the planet’s bow shock and subsequently observed the Venusian magnetosheath. The FIELDS instrument suite onboard the spacecraft achieved magnetic and electric field measurements of magnetic hole structures. The electric field associated with magnetic depressions are consistent with electron current vortices with amplitudes on the order of 1 $\mu$A/m$^2$.