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Zhang B, Delamere PA, Yao Z, Bonfond B, Lin D, Sorathia KA, Brambles OJ, Lotko W, Garretson JS, Merkin VG, Grodent D, Dunn WR, Lyon JG. How Jupiter's unusual magnetospheric topology structures its aurora. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/15/eabd1204. [PMID: 33837073 PMCID: PMC8034855 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd1204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Jupiter's bright persistent polar aurora and Earth's dark polar region indicate that the planets' magnetospheric topologies are very different. High-resolution global simulations show that the reconnection rate at the interface between the interplanetary and jovian magnetic fields is too slow to generate a magnetically open, Earth-like polar cap on the time scale of planetary rotation, resulting in only a small crescent-shaped region of magnetic flux interconnected with the interplanetary magnetic field. Most of the jovian polar cap is threaded by helical magnetic flux that closes within the planetary interior, extends into the outer magnetosphere, and piles up near its dawnside flank where fast differential plasma rotation pulls the field lines sunward. This unusual magnetic topology provides new insights into Jupiter's distinctive auroral morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binzheng Zhang
- Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Laboratory for Space Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Peter A Delamere
- Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Zhonghua Yao
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Bertrand Bonfond
- LPAP, Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR), Institute Université de Liége (ULiége), Liége, Belgium
| | - D Lin
- High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kareem A Sorathia
- Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, MD, USA
| | | | - William Lotko
- High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Jeff S Garretson
- Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, MD, USA
| | | | - Denis Grodent
- LPAP, Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR), Institute Université de Liége (ULiége), Liége, Belgium
| | - William R Dunn
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, UK
| | - John G Lyon
- Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, MD, USA
- Gamera Consulting, Hanover, NH, USA
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Jackman CM, Slavin JA, Cowley SWH. Cassini observations of plasmoid structure and dynamics: Implications for the role of magnetic reconnection in magnetospheric circulation at Saturn. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1029/2011ja016682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. M. Jackman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University College London; London UK
| | - J. A. Slavin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Greenbelt Maryland USA
| | - S. W. H. Cowley
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
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Jackman CM, Arridge CS, Slavin JA, Milan SE, Lamy L, Dougherty MK, Coates AJ. In situ observations of the effect of a solar wind compression on Saturn's magnetotail. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2010ja015312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. M. Jackman
- Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - C. S. Arridge
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics; University College London; Dorking UK
- The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck; London UK
| | - J. A. Slavin
- Heliophysics Science Division; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Greenbelt Maryland USA
| | - S. E. Milan
- Radio and Space Plasma Physics Group; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - L. Lamy
- Blackett Laboratory; Imperial College London; London UK
| | | | - A. J. Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Department of Space and Climate Physics; University College London; Dorking UK
- The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck; London UK
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Jackman CM, Arridge CS, Krupp N, Bunce EJ, Mitchell DG, McAndrews HJ, Dougherty MK, Russell CT, Achilleos N, Jones GH, Coates AJ. A multi-instrument view of tail reconnection at Saturn. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008ja013592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. M. Jackman
- Space and Atmospheric Physics Group; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - C. S. Arridge
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Surrey UK
- Centre for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
| | - N. Krupp
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research; Katlenburg-Lindau Germany
| | - E. J. Bunce
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of Leicester; Leicester UK
| | - D. G. Mitchell
- Applied Physics Laboratory; Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore Maryland USA
| | | | - M. K. Dougherty
- Space and Atmospheric Physics Group; Imperial College London; London UK
| | - C. T. Russell
- Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics; University of California; Los Angeles California USA
| | - N. Achilleos
- Centre for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University College London; London UK
| | - G. H. Jones
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Surrey UK
- Centre for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
| | - A. J. Coates
- Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University College London; Surrey UK
- Centre for Planetary Sciences; University College London; London UK
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