Jupiter's Magnetosphere: Coupling the Equator to the Poles

Details Jupiter's Magnetosphere: Coupling the Equator to the Poles Jupiter's Magnetosphere: Coupling the Equator to the Poles

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agufmsm24a..01b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2004, abstract #SM24A-01

Physics

5443 Magnetospheres (2756), 2736 Magnetosphere/Ionosphere Interactions, 2740 Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, 2756 Planetary Magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6030)

Scientific paper

The fact that the plasma in the magnetosphere of Jupiter is dominated by rotation tells us that the magnetosphere is strongly coupled to the planet. Rotation confines the plasma towards the equator, the bulk motion is predominately rotational (albeit lagging behind rigid corotation) and Jupiter's flywheel is the main source of energy. The low plasma density away from the equator, however, means that it is difficult for currents to couple the equatorial plasma to the planet's polar regions. Experience gleaned from satellites flying through the polar regions of the Earth's magnetosphere suggests that potential structures form above the ionosphere to allow the necessary currents to flow. Radio emissions from Jupiter (first detected around the date of this AGU meeting 50 years ago) are indications of electrons accelerated by such potential structures. Similarly, the intense aurora are indications of energetic particles bombarding the atmosphere. This paper reviews the current understanding of global dynamics of the jovian magnetosphere revealed by polar auroral emissions and the outstanding questions to be address, eventually, by a polar mission.

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