Accelerated flows at Jupiter's magnetopause: Evidence for magnetic reconnection along the dawn flank

R. W. Ebert; F. Allegrini; F. Bagenal; S. J. Bolton; J. E. P. Connerney; G. Clark; G. A. DiBraccio; D. J. Gershman; W. S. Kurth; S. Levin; P. Louarn; B. H. Mauk; D. J. McComas; M. Reno; J. R. Szalay; M. F. Thomsen; P. Valek; S. Weidner; R. J. Wilson

doi:10.1002/2016GL072187

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Accelerated flows at Jupiter's magnetopause: Evidence for magnetic reconnection along the dawn flank

Journal article

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Accelerated flows at Jupiter's magnetopause: Evidence for magnetic reconnection along the dawn flank

R. W. Ebert, F. Allegrini, F. Bagenal, S. J. Bolton, J. E. P. Connerney, G. Clark, G. A. DiBraccio, D. J. Gershman, W. S. Kurth, S. Levin, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(10), pp.4401-4409

05/28/2017

DOI: 10.1002/2016GL072187

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Abstract

We report on plasma and magnetic field observations from Juno's Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment and Magnetic Field Investigation at 18 magnetopause crossings when the spacecraft was located at similar to 6 h magnetic local time and 73-114 Jovian radii from Jupiter. Several crossings showed evidence of plasma energization, accelerated ion flows, and large magnetic shear angles, each representing a signature of magnetic reconnection. These signatures were observed for times when the magnetosphere was in both compressed and expanded states. We compared the flow change magnitudes to a simplified Walen relation and found similar to 60% of the events to be 110% or less of the predicted values. Close examination of two magnetopause encounters revealed characteristics of a rotational discontinuity and an open magnetopause. These observations provide compelling evidence that magnetic reconnection can occur at Jupiter's dawn magnetopause and should be incorporated into theories of solar wind coupling and outer magnetosphere dynamics at Jupiter.

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

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Title: Subtitle: Accelerated flows at Jupiter's magnetopause: Evidence for magnetic reconnection along the dawn flank
Creators: R. W. Ebert - Southwest Research Institute
F. Allegrini - The University of Texas at San Antonio
F. Bagenal - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
S. J. Bolton - Southwest Research Institute
J. E. P. Connerney - Goddard Space Flight Center
G. Clark - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
G. A. DiBraccio - Goddard Space Flight Center
D. J. Gershman - Goddard Space Flight Center
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
S. Levin - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
P. Louarn - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie
B. H. Mauk - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
D. J. McComas - Princeton University
M. Reno - Southwest Research Institute
J. R. Szalay - Southwest Research Institute
M. F. Thomsen - Planetary Science Institute
P. Valek - The University of Texas at San Antonio
S. Weidner - Princeton University
R. J. Wilson - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(10), pp.4401-4409
DOI: 10.1002/2016GL072187
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
Number of pages: 9
Grant note: Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) on NASA's Juno mission ST/P000541/1 / Science and Technology Facilities Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) ST/P000541/1 / STFC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Language: English
Date published: 05/28/2017
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455545002771

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