Laboratory Experiments Simulating the Results of the Magnetic Properties Experiment on Mars Pathfinder.

Introduction and Results from Mars As part of the magnetic properties experiments the Pathfinder lander carried two Magnet Arrays (MAs) [1-3]. The goal of the magnetic properties experiment is to determine the specific saturation magnetization σs of the particles sticking to the various magnets on Mars, and if possible to identify the mineral or minerals responsible for the magnetization of the dust suspended in the martian atmosphere. A MA consists of two blocks of magnesium, one block carrying two bull’s-eye magnets (approximately of Viking strengths) and another block carrying 3 magnets of lower and decreasing strengths, i.e. with decreasing ability to capture and hold magnetic particles. The magnets are numbered 1 through 5 from right to left. In the Pathfinder mission the dust attracted by the magnets was imaged by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) and the pictures transmitted to Earth.