Unmagnetized Planets/Moons in the Solar System

* highlights student work
** highlights postdoc/scientist work

1. C. Zhang, C. F. Dong, H. Zhou, J. Halekas, X. Li, J. Gao, H.-W. Shen, X. Wang, H. Nilsson, R. Ramstad, C. Mazelle, L. Wang, S. Xu, A. Tadlock, K. G. Hanley, S. M. Curry, D. L. Mitchell, Global Energy Transport and Conversion in the Solar Wind–Mars Interaction: MAVEN Observations, submitted, 2025.

2. P. Withers, N. B. Pickett, M. Benna, P. C. Chamberlin, C. F. Dong, S. L. England, J. Gao, C. L. Gray, S. Gupta, C. O. Lee, S. W. Stone, S. Xu, C. Zhang, B. M. Jakosky, and S. Curry, An overview of the MAVEN Deep Dip campaigns, submitted, 2025.

3. R. D. Jolitz, C. O. Lee, J. Cessna, S. Jain, S. Howard, M. Lemmon, M. Pinto, B. Sanchez-Cano, R. Ramstad, K. G. Hanley, M. Nauth, N. B. Pickett, S. Xu, X. Fang, C. Fowler, Y. Ma, M. Felici, K. Chirakkil, J. Luhmann, J. Halekas, E. Thiemann, F. Eparvier, N. Schneider, J. Deighan, R. Lillis, M. Chaffin, D. Mitchell, A. Rahmati, D. Larson, J. McFadden, M. Benna, Y. Lee, G. Poh, J. Espley, A. Hughes, C. Bertucci, L. Andersson, C. F. Dong, C. Mazelle, P. Garnier, H. Madanian, T. Hara, Y. Dong, N. Schnepf, H. Shen, A. Chasapis, S. Shuvalov, J. S. Evans, C. Zhang**, G. DiBraccio, and S. M. Curry, Mars on the Farside: Multipoint observations of an unusual space weather event in December 2023, submitted, 2025.

4. A. Tadlock*, C. F. Dong, C. Zhang**, M. Franz, H. Zhou**, Magnetic Field and Plasma Asymmetries Between Martian Quasi-Perpendicular and Quasi-Parallel Magnetosheaths, submitted, 2025.

5. C. Zhang**, C. F. Dong, T. Z. Liu, C. Mazelle, S. Raptis, H. Zhou**, J. Fruchtman, J. Halekas, J.‐H. Li, K. G. Hanley, S. M. Curry, D. L. Mitchell, X. Li**, Role of ULF Waves in Reforming the Martian Bow Shock, AGU Advances, in press (2025). 

6. C. Zhang**, C. F. Dong, H. Zhou**, J. Halekas, M. Yamauchi, H. Nilsson, T. Z. Liu, M. Persson, S. Curry, Y. Dong, Y. Futaana, Y. Chen**, M. Zhou, R. Suranga, K. G. Hanley, C. Mazelle, S. Xu, R. Ramstad, M. Holmström, L.-J. Chen, Anomalous Transient Enhancement of Planetary Ion Escape at Mars, Nature Communications 16, 3159 (2025).

7. C. Zhang**, C. F. Dong, H. Zhou**, J. Deca, S. Xu, Y. Harada, S. M. Curry, D. L. Mitchell, Z.-Y. Liu, J. Qin, C. Mazelle, Observational Characteristics of Electron Distributions in the Martian Induced Magnetotail, Geophys. Res. Lett. 52, e2024GL113030 (2025).

8. S. Li, S. Wang, H. Lu, J. Cao, X. Wu, Y. Ge, J. A. Wild, C. F. Dong, N. Chen, Y. Song, J. Wang, Y. Cao, J. Zhao, Ion-scale Characteristics of the Martian Magnetic Pile-up Boundary Layer, Geophys. Res. Lett. 52, e2024GL113340 (2025).

9. J. Gao**, S. Li, A. Mittelholz, Z. Rong, M. Persson, Z. Shi**, H. Lu, C. Zhang**, X. Wang, C. F. Dong, L. Klinger, J. Cui, Y. Wei, Y. Pan, Two distinct current systems in the ionosphere of Mars, Nature Communications 15, 9704 (2024).

10. C. Zhang**, H. Y. Zhou**, C. F. Dong, Y. Harada, M. Yamauchi, S. S. Xu, H. Nilsson, Y. Ebihara, S. M. Curry, J. F. Qin, D. L. Mitchell, D. A. Brain, Source of Drift-dispersed Electrons in Martian Crustal Magnetic Fields, ApJ 972, 153 (2024). 

11. C. Zhang**, Z. Rong, X. Li, M. Fränz, H. Nilsson, R. Jarvinen, M. Persson, Y. Futaana, C. F. Dong, M. Yamauchi, J. Gao, Y.-J. Zhou, L. Wang, Z. Shi, Y. Wei, F. He, M. Holmström, S. Barabash, The Energetic Oxygen Ion Beams in the Martian Magnetotail Current Sheets: Hints From the Comparisons Between Two Types of Current Sheets, Geophys. Res. Lett. 51, e2023GL107190 (2024). 

12. C. Zhang**, H. Nilsson, Y. Ebihara, M. Yamauchi, M. Persson, Z. Rong, J. Zhong, C. F. Dong, Y. Chen, X. Zhou, Y. Sun, Y. Harada, J. Halekas, S. Xu, Y. Futaana, Z. Shi, C. Yuan, X. Yun, S. Fu, J. Gao, M. Holmstrom, Y. Wei, S. Barabash, Detection of magnetospheric ion drift patterns at Mars, Nature Communications 14, 6866 (2023). arXiv:2311.06151

13. J. S. Halekas, S. Shaver, A. R.Azari, C. M. Fowler, Y. Ma, S. Xu, L. Andersson, C. Bertucci, S. M. Curry, C. F. Dong, Y. Dong, X. Fang, P. Garnier, K. G. Hanley, T. Hara, S. K. Howard, A. Hughes, R. J. Lillis, C. O. Lee, J. G. Luhmann, H. Madanian, M. Marquette, C. Mazelle, J. P. McFadden, K. Meziane, D. L. Mitchell, A. Rahmati, W. Reed, N. Romanelli, N. R.Schnepf, The Day the Solar Wind Disappeared at Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 128, e2023JA031935 (2023).

14. G. Boscoboinik*, C. Bertucci, D. Gomez, C. Dong, L. Regoli, C. Mazelle, J. Halekas, J. Espley, C.M. Fowler, D. Mitchell, L. Andersson, Forces, electric fields and currents at the subsolar Martian MPB: MAVEN observations and multifluid MHD simulation, Icarus 401, 115598 (2023).

15. J. L. Green, C. F. Dong,  M. Hesse, C. A. Young, V. Airapetian, Space weather observations, modeling, and alerts in support of human exploration of Mars, Front. Astron. Space Sci. 9:1023305 (2022). arXiv:2211.04021

16. C. Zhang*, Y. Futaana, H. Nilsson, Z. J. Rong, M. Persson, L. Klinger, X. D. Wang, G. S. Wieser, S. Barabash, C. F. Dong, M. Holmström, Y. Soobiah, Y. Wei, Mars-ward Ion Flows in the Martian Magnetotail: Mars Express Observations, Geophys. Res. Lett. 49, e2022GL100691 (2022).

17. R. Jolitz*, C. F. Dong, A. Rahmati, D. A. Brain C. Lee, R. Lillis, S. M. Curry, B. M. Jakosky, Test particle model predictions of SEP electron transport and precipitation at Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 126, e2021JA029132 (2021).

18. J. S. He, B. Cui, L. P. Yang, C. P Hou, L. Zhang, W.-H. Ip, Y.-D. Jia, C. F. Dong, D. Duan, Q. G. Zong, S. D. Bale, M. Pulupa, J. W. Bonnell, T. D. De Wit, K. Goetz, P. R. Harvey, R. J. MacDowall, and D. M. Malaspina, The Encounter of the Parker Solar Probe and a Comet-like Object Near the Sun: Model Predictions and Measurements, ApJ 910, 7 (2021). arXiv:2012.00005

19. V. Mangano et al., BepiColombo Science Investigations During Cruise and Flybys at the Earth, Venus and Mercury, Space Science Reviews 217, 23 (2021).

20. S. Xu, S. M. Curry, D. L. Mitchell, J. G. Luhmann, R. J. Lillis, and C. F. Dong, Superthermal Electron Deposition on the Mars Nightside During ICMEs, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 125, e2020JA028430 (2020).

21. Y. Lee, X. H. Fang, M. Gacesa, Y. J. Ma, V. Tenishev, P. Mahaffy, C. F. Dong, M. Combi, S. Bougher, and B. Jakosky, Effects of Global and Regional Dust Storms on the Martian Hot O Corona and Photochemical Loss, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 125, e2019JA027115 (2020).

22. S. S. Xu, D. L. Mitchell, T. Weber, D. A. Brain, J. G. Luhmann, C. F. Dong, S. M. Curry, Y. J. Ma, G. A. DiBraccio, J. Halekas, Y. X. Dong, C. Mazelle, Characterizing Mars' magnetotail topology with respect to the upstream interplanetary magnetic fields, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 125, e2019JA027755 (2020).

23. X. Fang, Y. Ma, Y. Lee, S. W. Bougher, G. Liu, M. Benna, P. Mahaffy, L. Montabone, D. Pawlowski, C. F. Dong, Y. Dong, and B. Jakosky, Mars Dust Storm Effects in the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere and Implications for Atmospheric Carbon Loss, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 125, e2019JA026838 (2020). 

24. Y. J. Ma, C. F. Dong, G. Toth, B. van der Holst, A. F. Nagy, C. T. Russell, S. W. Bougher, X. H. Fang, J. S. Halekas, J. R. Espley, P. R. Mahaffy, M. Benna, J. McFadden, and B. M. Jakosky, Importance of ambipolar electric field in driving ion loss from Mars‐ Results from a multi‐fluid MHD model with the electron pressure equation included, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 124, 9040-9057 (2019).

25. X. H. Fang, D. Pawlowski, Y. J. Ma, S. Bougher, E. Thiemann, F. Eparvier, W. Wang, C. F. Dong, C. O. Lee, Y. Dong, M. Benna, M. Elrod, P. Chamberlin, P. Mahaffy, and B. Jakosky, Mars upper atmospheric responses to the 10 September 2017 solar flare: A global, time-dependent simulation, Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, 9334-9343 (2019).

26. S. Xu, S. M. Curry, D. L. Mitchell, J. G. Luhmann, R. J. Lillis, and C. F. Dong, Magnetic topology response to the 2003 Halloween ICME event at Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 124, 151-165 (2019).

27. C. F. Dong, S. W. Bougher, Y. J. Ma, Y. Lee, G. Toth, A. F. Nagy, X. H. Fang, J. G. Luhmann, M. W. Liemohn, J. S. Halekas, V. Tenishev, D. J. Pawlowski, and M. R. Combi, Solar wind interaction with the Martian upper atmosphere: Roles of the cold thermosphere and hot oxygen corona, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 123, 6639-6654 (2018). arXiv:1804.00937

28. Y. Lee, C. F. Dong, D. Pawlowski, E. Thiemann, V. Tenishev, P. Mahaffy, M. Benna, M. R. Combi, S. Bougher, F. Eparvier, Effects of a Solar Flare on the Martian Hot O Corona and Photochemical Escape, Geophys. Res. Lett. 45, 6814-6822 (2018).

29. C. F. Dong, Y. Lee, Y. J. Ma, M. Lingam, S. W. Bougher, J. G. Luhmann, S. M. Curry, G. Toth, A. F. Nagy, V. Tenishev, X. H. Fang, D. Mitchell, D. Brain, B. Jakosky, Modeling Martian Atmospheric Losses over Time: Implications for Exoplanetary Climate Evolution and Habitability, ApJ Letters 859, L14 (2018). arXiv:1805.05016; Highlight on AAS Nova, Press Release in Astrobiology Web

30. L. H. Regoli, C. F. Dong, Y. J. Ma, E. Dubinin, W. B. Manchester, S. W. Bougher, D. T. Welling, Multi‐species and multi‐fluid MHD approaches for the study of ionospheric escape at Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 123, 7370-7383 (2018).

31. B. M. Jakosky et al., Loss of the Martian atmosphere to space: Present-day loss rates determined from MAVEN observations and integrated loss through time, Icarus 315, 146-157 (2018).

32. Y. J. Ma, X. Fang, J. Halekas, S. Xu, C. T. Russell, J. Luhmann, A. F. Nagy, G. Toth, C. Lee, C. F. Dong, J. Espley, J. P. Mcfadden, D. Mitchell, B. Jakosky, The Impact and Solar wind Proxy of the 2017 September ICME Event at Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett. 45, 7248-7256 (2018). 

33. X. H. Fang, Y. J. Ma, J. Luhmann, Y. X. Dong, D. Brain, D. Hurley, C. F. Dong, C. Lee, and B. M. Jakosky, The morphology of the solar wind magnetic field draping on the dayside of Mars and its variability, Geophys. Res. Lett. 45, 3356-3365 (2018). 

34. H. Egan*, Y. J. Ma, C. F. Dong, R. Modolo, R. Jarvinen, S. Bougher, J. Halekas, D. Brain, J. McFadden, J. Connerney, D. Mitchell, B. Jakosky, Comparison of Global Martian Plasma Models in the Context of MAVEN Observations, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 123, 3714-3726 (2018).

35. G. A. DiBraccio, J. G. Luhmann, S. M. Curry, J. R. Espley, S. Xu, D. L. Mitchell, Y. Ma, C. F. Dong, J. R. Gruesbeck, J. E. P. Connerney, Y. Harada, S. Ruhunusiri, J. S. Halekas, Y. Soobiah, T. Hara, D. A. Brain, and B. M. Jakosky, The Twisted Configuration of the Martian Magnetotail: MAVEN Observations, Geophys. Res. Lett. 45, 4559-4568 (2018).

36. R. Jolitz*, C. F. Dong, C. Lee, R. J. Lillis, D. A. Brain, S. M. Curry, S. W. Bougher, C. Parkinson, A Monte Carlo Model of Crustal Field Influences on Solar Energetic Particle Precipitation into the Martian Atmosphere, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 122, 5653--5669 (2017). 

37. M. W. Liemohn, S. S. Xu, C. F. Dong, S. W. Bougher, B. C. Johnson, R. Ilie and D. De Zeeuw, Ionospheric control of the dawn-dusk asymmetry of the Mars magnetotail current sheet, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 122, 6397--6414 (2017). 

38. X. H. Fang, Y. J. Ma, K. Masunaga, Y. X. Dong, D. Brain, J. Halekas, R. Lillis, B. Jakosky, J. Connerney, J. Grebowsky, and C. F. Dong, The Mars crustal magnetic field control of plasma boundary locations and atmospheric loss: MHD prediction and comparison with MAVEN, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 122, 4117--4137 (2017).

39. J. G. Luhmann, C. F. Dong, Y. J. Ma, S. M. Curry, Y. Li, C. O. Lee, T. Hara, R. Lillis, J. Halekas, J. E. Connerney, J. Espley, D. A. Brain, Y. Dong, B. M. Jakosky, E. Thiemann, F. Eparvier, F. Leblanc, P. Withers, C. T. Russell, Space Weather Storm Responses at Mars: Lessons from A Weakly Magnetized Terrestrial Planet, Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union 12, 211-217 (2017).

40. J. G. Luhmann, C. F. Dong, Y. J. Ma, S. M. Curry, S. Xu, C. O. Lee, T. Hara, J. Halekas, Yan Li, J. R. Gruesbeck, J. Espley, D. A. Brain, C. T. Russell, Martian Magnetic Storms, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 122, 6185--6209 (2017).

41. Y. J. Ma, C. T. Russell, X. Fang, C. F. Dong, A. F. Nagy, G. Toth, J. S. Halekas, J. E. P. Connerney, J. R. Espley, P. R. Mahaffy, M. Benna, J. McFadden, D. Mitchell, L. Andersson, and B. M. Jakosky, Variations of the Martian plasma environment during the ICME passage on 8 March 2015 -- A time-dependent MHD study, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 122, 1714--1730 (2017).

42. S. S. Xu, D. Mitchell, M. W. Liemohn, C. F. Dong, S. Bougher, M. Fillingim, R. Lillis, J. McFadden, C. Mazelle, J. Connerney, and B. Jakosky, Deep nightside photoelectron observations by MAVEN SWEA: implications for Martian northern-hemispheric magnetic topology and nightside ionosphere source, Geophys. Res. Lett. 43, 8876--8884 (2016).

43. S. S. Xu, M. W. Liemohn, C. F. Dong, D. L. Mitchell, S. W. Bougher, Y. J. Ma, Pressure and ion composition boundaries at Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 121, 6417--6429 (2016).

44. C.F. Dong, Space Weather at Mars: 3-D Studies Using One-way Coupling Between the Multi-fluid MHD, M-GITM and M-AMPS Models, Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Michigan (2015).

45. C.F. Dong, Y.J. Ma, S.W. Bougher, G. Toth, A.F. Nagy,  J.S. Halekas, Y.X. Dong, S.M. Curry, J.G. Luhmann, D. Brain, J.E.P. Connerney, J. Espley, P. Mahaffy, M. Benna, J.P. McFadden, D.L. Mitchell, G.A. DiBraccio, R. J. Lillis, B.M. Jakosky, and J.M. Grebowsky, Multifluid MHD study of the solar wind interaction with Mars' upper atmosphere during the 2015 March 8th ICME event, Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 9103-9112 (2015).

46. S. M. Curry, J. G. Luhmann, Y. J. Ma, C. F. Dong, D. Brain, F. Leblanc, R. Modolo, Y. Dong, J. McFadden, J. Halekas, J.E.P. Connerney, J. Espley, T. Hara, Y. Harada, C. Lee, X. Fang, and B. Jakosky, Response of Mars O+ Pick-up Ions to the March 8th, 2015 ICME: Inferences from MAVEN Data-Based Models, Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 9095--9102 (2015).

47. J.G. Luhmann, C.F. Dong, Y.J. Ma, S.M. Curry, D. Mitchell, J. Espley, J. Connerney, J. Halekas, D.A. Brain, B.M. Jakosky, and C. Mazelle, Implications of MAVEN Mars Near-Wake Measurements and Models, Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 9087--9094 (2015).

48. P. Withers, M. Vogt, M. Mayyasi, P. Mahaffy, M. Benna, M. Elrod, S. Bougher, C.F. Dong, J.-Y. Chaufray,Y.J. Ma, and B. Jakosky, Comparison of model predictions for the composition of the ionosphere of Mars to MAVEN NGIMS data, Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 8966--8976 (2015).

49. D.A. Brain, J.P. McFadden, J.S. Halekas, J.E.P. Connerney, S.W. Bougher, S. Curry, C.F. Dong, Y. Dong, F. Eparvier, X. Fang, K. Fortier, T. Hara, Y. Harada, B.M. Jakosky, R. Lillis, R. Livi, J.G. Luhmann, Y. Ma, R. Modolo, K. Seki, The spatial distribution of planetary ion fluxes near Mars observed by MAVEN, Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 9142--9148 (2015).

50. S.W. Bougher et al., Early MAVEN Deep Dip campaign reveals thermosphere and ionosphere variability, Science 350, aad0459 (2015).

51. B.M. Jakosky et al., MAVEN observations of the response of Mars to an interplanetary coronal mass ejection, Science 350, aad0210 (2015).

52. R.J. Lillis, D.A. Brain, S.W. Bougher, F. Leblanc, J.G. Luhmann, B.M. Jakosky, R. Modolo, J. Fox, J. Deighan, X. Fang, Y.C. Wang, Y. Lee, C.F. Dong, Y.J. Ma, T. Cravens, L. Andersson, S.M. Curry, N. Schneider, M. Combi, I. Stewart, J. Clarke, J. Grebowsky, D.L. Mitchell, R. Yelle, A.F. Nagy, D. Baker, R.P. Lin, Characterizing atmospheric escape from Mars today and through time, with MAVEN, Space Sci. Rev. 195, 357-422 (2015).

53.  C.F. Dong, S.W. Bougher, Y.J. Ma, G. Toth, Y. Lee, A.F. Nagy, V. Tenishev, D.J. Pawlowski, M.R. Combi, and D. Najib, Solar wind interaction with the Martian upper atmosphere: Crustal field orientation, solar cycle and seasonal variations, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 120, 7857-7872 (2015).

54. S.M. Curry, J. Luhmann, Y. Ma, M.W. Liemohn, C.F. Dong, and T. Hara, Comparative pick-up ion distributions at Mars and Venus: Consequences for atmospheric deposition and escape, Planet. & Space Sci. 115, 35-47 (2015).

55. Y.J. Ma, X.H. Fang, C.T. Russell, A.F. Nagy, G. Toth, J.G. Luhmann, D.A. Brain, and C.F. Dong, Effects of Crustal Field Rotation on the Solar Wind Plasma Interaction with Mars, Geophys. Res. Lett. 41, 6563–6569 (2014).

56. C.F. Dong, S.W. Bougher, Y.J. Ma, G. Toth, A.F. Nagy, and D. Najib, Solar wind interaction with Mars upper atmosphere: Results from the one-way coupling between the multi-fluid MHD model and the M-TGCM model, Geophys. Res. Lett. 41, 2708–2715 (2014).

57. S.M. Curry, M.W. Liemohn, X.H. Fang, Y.J. Ma, J.A. Slavin, J.R. Espley,  S.W. Bougher, and C.F. Dong, Test particle comparison of heavy atomic and molecular ion distributions at Mars, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics 119, 2328–2344 (2014).

58.  C.F. Dong, M.M. Cowee, and D. Winske, Plasma and wave properties downstream of Martian bow shock: Hybrid simulations, in "Los Alamos Space Weather Summer School Research Reports", LA-UR 13-29060, Los Alamos National Lab (2013).