Plasma wave observations from Juno spacecraft at the Jovian bow shock

J. Joseph; W. S. Kurth; L. B. Wilson; J. E. P. Connerney; F. Allegrini; R. J. Wilson; A. H. Sulaiman; R. W. Ebert; J. B. Faden; C. W. Piker; A. N. Jaynes; B. H. Mauk; S. J. Bolton

doi:10.1038/s41467-026-76223-x

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Plasma wave observations from Juno spacecraft at the Jovian bow shock

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Plasma wave observations from Juno spacecraft at the Jovian bow shock

J. Joseph, W. S. Kurth, L. B. Wilson, J. E. P. Connerney, F. Allegrini, R. J. Wilson, A. H. Sulaiman, R. W. Ebert, J. B. Faden, C. W. Piker, …

Nature communications

07/31/2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76223-x

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Abstract

Recent observations of Jupiter’s bow shock have provided new insights into the energy dissipation mechanisms associated with bow shocks of outer planets. At greater distances from the Sun, the typically increasing super-Alfvénic nature of the solar wind leads to higher-energy bow shocks with enhanced dissipation requirements. Research on Earth’s bow shock suggests that plasma waves (e.g., ion-acoustic waves, waves driven by the electron cyclotron drift instability, electrostatic solitary waves, and whistler mode waves) play a critical role in converting solar wind bulk kinetic energy into thermal energy. However, the lack of high-resolution plasma wave data, which is essential for detecting these waves, has previously hindered their identification at the outer planets. Here we demonstrate, based on two case studies, that similar waves also exist at Jupiter’s bow shock. But, unlike their terrestrial counterparts, Ion-acoustic waves at Jupiter may display harmonic structures, indicating possible particle trapping, and intense electron cyclotron drift instability may occur to accommodate the shock’s intensity. Magnetic field measurements suggest possible shock reformation.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Plasma wave observations from Juno spacecraft at the Jovian bow shock
Creators: J. Joseph - University of Iowa, Physics and Astronomy
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
L. B. Wilson - Goddard Space Flight Center
J. E. P. Connerney - Goddard Space Flight Center
F. Allegrini - The University of Texas at San Antonio
R. J. Wilson - University of Colorado Boulder
A. H. Sulaiman - University of Minnesota
R. W. Ebert - Southwest Research Institute
J. B. Faden - University of Iowa
C. W. Piker - University of Iowa
A. N. Jaynes - University of Iowa, Physics and Astronomy
B. H. Mauk - Johns Hopkins University
S. J. Bolton - Southwest Research Institute
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Nature communications
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76223-x
ISSN: 2041-1723
eISSN: 2041-1723
Publisher: Springer Nature
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 07/31/2026
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy; University College Courses
Record Identifier: 9985217826602771

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