On the structure of the plasma disk in the Jovian magnetosphere

Details On the structure of the plasma disk in the Jovian magnetosphere On the structure of the plasma disk in the Jovian magnetosphere

Jul 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994p%26ss...42..583b&link_type=abstract

Planetary and Space Science, vol. 42, no. 7, p. 583-592

Computer Science

3

Dense Plasmas, Density Distribution, Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, Jupiter (Planet), Magnetic Field Configurations, Magnetic Flux, Magnetohydrodynamic Stability, Planetary Magnetospheres, Plasma Density, Plasma Diffusion, Plasma Equilibrium, Space Plasmas, Current Sheets, Io, Larmor Radius, Planetary Orbits, Plasma Currents

Scientific paper

We have determined the structure of the low-energy plasma disk in the middle Jovian magnetosphere. First, the shape of the dense plasma structures have been described analytically. We have investigated a distribution of the background plasma along the arbitrary magnetic flux tube in the frame of diffuse equilibrium taking into account the action of centrifugal and gravitational forces. Using the results of this investigation we have shown that background plasma density reaches the maximum on the surface, consisting of the warped disk between the magnetic and centrifugal equators outside Io's orbit and two mirror symmetrical 'petals' in the region of the polar cusps. Second, the radial profile of plasma density in the disk has been studied. We have considered the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability of the low-latitude dense plasma disk formed under the action of centrifugal force. The equilibrium radial distribution of the plasma was found for the plasma disk at the threshold of the instability with respect to small-scale MHD perturbations. The effect of the finite ion Larmor radius at the threshold of plasma instability was taken into account. We have estimated the influence of the inhomogeneity of the plasma perturbations along the magnetic field on the radial density profile bearing in mind the finite conductivity of the Jovian ionosphere. A relationship between the thickness of the plasma disk and the radial plasma distribution has been pointed out. The results obtained were compared with the known experimental data for the Jovian plasma sheet.

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