Electric current systems at Mars and Venus

The physics of the interaction of unmagnetized planets with the Solar wind has
been investigated since the first Mariner spacecraft did reach Mars and Venus
more than 50 years ago. Recent observations of the magnetic fields at Mars allowed 
to derive the global electric current configuration in the Martian system.
Earlier magneto hydro-dynamic models were able to predict the formation
and location of the bowshock in front of the planets. More sophisticated models 
of the interaction with the magnetized solar wind later could demonstrate
the global static picture of the plasma environment of Mars and Venus. But earlier models were rarely
able to model dynamic effects and the timing of physical process in this interaction.
We here use the open source PLUTO code in its 3D spherical hydrodynamic and magneto-hydrodynamic version. 
We also develop a multi-species extension of this code. 
We investigate the interaction of the solar wind with the ionospheres of Mars and Venus with the aim to understand the 
importance of  different physical effects on bow shock location, ion escape and specifically the electric current structures. 
We compare these simulations to observations by the VEX and MAVEN spacecraft.