Electron energetics in the Martian dayside ionosphere: Model comparisons with MAVEN data Shotaro Sakai1, Laila Andersson2, Thomas E. Cravens1, David L. Mitchell3, Christian Mazelle4,5, Ali Rahmati1,3, Christopher M. Fowler2, Stephen W. Bougher6, Edward M. B. Thiemann2, Francis G. Eparvier2, Juan M. Fontenla7, Paul R. Mahaffy8, John E. P. Connerney8, and Bruce M. Jakosky2 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas, Malott Hall, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA 2Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1234 Innovation Drive, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA 3Space Science Laboratory, University of California, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, California 94720, USA 4Université de Toulouse, UPS-OMP, IRAP, Toulouse, France 5CNRS, IRAP, 9 Av. Colonel Roche, BP 44346-31028 Toulouse Cedex 4, France 6Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA 7NorthWest Research Associates, 3380 Mitchell Ln, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA 8NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA Corresponding Author: Thomas E. Cravens, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas, Malott Hall, 1251 Wescoe Hall Drive, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA (
[email protected]) Main points * High electron temperatures (e.g., 3000 K) can be obtained in the Martian topside ionosphere without invoking solar wind heating. * The magnetic topology is a key factor in determining electron temperatures and photoelectron fluxes at Mars. This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record.