Energetic electrons in the dayside mantle of Venus

The purpose of the current study is to review the available and relevant experimental data in order to examine whether there is any evidence of accelerated electrons above the dayside ionosphere of Venus, where the shocked solar wind encounters the planetary plasma, that is in the dayside mantle. Such energetic electrons were seen around Mars in the corresponding region, and theoretical studies also predict their existence at Venus. Direct measurements, however, are not available, because the retarding potential analyzer (ORPA) onboard the Pioneer Venus Orbiter had an upper energy limit of 60 eV. Therefore we were forced to look for indirect evidences. We have reexamined the ORPA data and the magnetic field measurements in the dayside mantle. We have concluded, using these indirect indicators, that this energetic electron population is very likely to be present in the dayside mantle of Venus.