Journal article
Spatial Distribution and Properties of 0.1-100 keV Electrons in Jupiter's Polar Auroral Region
Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(18), pp.9199-9207
09/28/2017
DOI: 10.1002/2017GL075106
Abstract
We present observations of 0.1-100 keV electrons from Juno's Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment Electron instrument over Jupiter's polar auroral region for periods around four Juno perijoves (PJ1, PJ3, PJ4, and PJ5). The observations reveal regions containing magnetic field aligned beams of bidirectional electrons having broad energy distributions interspersed between beams of upward electrons with narrow, peaked energy distributions, regions void of these electrons, and regions dominated by penetrating radiation. The electrons show evidence of acceleration via parallel electric fields (inverted-V structures) and via stochastic processes (bidirectional distributions). The inverted-V structures shown here were observed from similar to 1.4 to 2.9 R-J and had spatial scales of hundreds to thousands of kilometers along Juno's trajectory. The upward electron energy flux was typically greater than the downward flux, the latter ranging between similar to 0.01 and 5 mW m(-2) for two cases shown here which we estimate could produce similar to 0.1-50 kR of ultraviolet emission.
Plain Language Summary We report on observations of 0.1 - 100 kilo-electron volt electrons from the Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment Electron instrument (JADE-E) on Juno over the region where Jupiter's ultraviolet (UV) polar aurora is produced. The observations show electrons moving both towards and away from Jupiter. These electrons show both broad and narrow energy distributions, suggesting the presence of at least two different acceleration mechanisms. Regions void of these electrons and regions dominated by penetrating radiation were also identified. The energy flux of the electrons moving towards Jupiter was sufficient to produce the weaker UV polar auroral emissions observed at Jupiter but a different source of electrons, likely with higher energies, is required to account for the brighter emissions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Spatial Distribution and Properties of 0.1-100 keV Electrons in Jupiter's Polar Auroral Region
- Creators
- R. W. Ebert - Southwest Research InstituteF. Allegrini - Southwest Research InstituteF. Bagenal - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space PhysicsS. J. Bolton - Southwest Research InstituteJ. E. P. Connerney - Goddard Space Flight CenterG. Clark - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryG. R. Gladstone - Southwest Research InstituteV. Hue - Southwest Research InstituteW. S. Kurth - University of IowaS. Levin - Jet Propulsion LaboratoryP. Louarn - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et PlanétologieB. H. Mauk - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryD. J. McComas - Southwest Research InstituteC. Paranicas - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryM. Reno - Princeton Plasma Physics LaboratoryJ. Saur - University of CologneJ. R. Szalay - Princeton UniversityM. F. Thomsen - Planetary Science InstituteP. Valek - Southwest Research InstituteS. Weidner - Princeton Plasma Physics LaboratoryR. J. Wilson - Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(18), pp.9199-9207
- DOI
- 10.1002/2017GL075106
- 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
- 09/28/2017
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455263902771
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