The diagram of induced magnetosphere formation on Mars under radial interplanetary magnetic field conditions.

A team led by Yuan Zhigang and Huang Shiyong from Wuhan University's School of Earth and Space Science and Technology, in collaboration with Southern University of Science and Technology and the University of Science and Technology of China, has achieved a groundbreaking discovery about Mars' magnetosphere.

Their study, Mars' induced magnetosphere can form under radial interplanetary magnetic field, has been published in the journal The Innovation, revealing that Mars can form an induced magnetosphere even under extreme radial interplanetary magnetic field conditions, providing a crucial barrier against solar wind.

The team utilized the elliptical orbit of China's Tianwen-1 mission as a "sentinel" to monitor upstream solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions. Meanwhile, NASA's Maven mission acted as a "microscope" to examine the fine structure of Mars' near-space environment.

The researchers captured decisive evidence: during typical radial interplanetary magnetic field periods, the magnetic pressure from Mars' dayside ionosphere to the magnetic pileup boundary exceeds the solar wind's dynamic pressure, dominating the interaction.

The team also employed three-dimensional hybrid numerical simulations to delve into the core mechanism: ionospheric conductivity acts as a critical "switch”. When Mars' ionosphere exhibits low resistivity (high conductivity), its interaction with the solar wind generates strong induced currents, effectively "triggering" the magnetic protective layer.

This research provides the first observational resolution of a longstanding debate, enhancing our understanding of Mars' space environment. The findings also have broader implications for research on exoplanet habitability.

For Earth-like planets orbiting active red dwarf stars, which often experience strong radial magnetic fields, Mars' "induced shield" mechanism could be crucial for retaining an atmosphere and sustaining potential life.