Plasma electron signatures of magnetic connection to the Jovian bow shock: Ulysses observations

Ulysses plasma electron observations of bidirectional and enhanced unidirectional electron heat fluxes within 4500 R_J (0.8 a.u. or 3 months on either side of closest approach) of Jupiter are presented as evidence for the magnetic connection of the spacecraft to the Jovian bow shock. These bursts of suprathermal electrons (> 30 eV) are observed when the interplanetary magnetic field points roughly parallel or antiparallel to the Jupiter-spacecraft line. Ninety-eight possible connection events were found over the 6 month period centered on the closest approach to Jupiter. The frequency of occurrence peaked with proximity to the bow shock, with most events occurring post-encounter. These are the first observations of backstreaming suprathermal electrons made in the vicinity of the Jovian bow shock.     

Developments in Jovian Radio Emissions Tomography and Observations Techniques

Jupiter radio emission is known to be the most powerful nonthermal planetary radiation. In recent years specifically space-based observations allow us to permanently cover a large frequency band(from 100 kHz up to 40 MHz combined with ground-based telescopes)of the Jovian spectrum. The Plasma and Wave Science experiment onboard Galileo enables the observation of Jovian kilometric and hectometric emissions; Wind/WAVES and ground-based telescopes (mainly Decametric Array in Nancay, France, and UTR-2 in Kharkov, Ukraine) cover also hectometric and mainly decametric emissions. Specific geometrical configurations between Cassini approaching Jupiter and Wind spacecraft orbiting Earth, with Galileo orbiting Jupiter and Wind, in combination with ground-based observations provide a new approach to perform Jovian radio tomography. The tomography technique is used to analyze ray paths of Jovian radio emission observed in different directions (e.g. solar and anti-solar direction) and for different declination of Earth. The developments of Jovian radio emission tomography in recent years treated refraction effects and its connection to the local magnetic field in the radio source as well as the radio wave propagation through the Io torus and the terrestrial ionosphere. Most recently ground-based multi-site and simultaneous Jupiter decametric radio observations by means of digital spectropolarimeter and waveform receiver provide the basis of a new data analysis treatment. The above addressed topics are without exemption deeply connected to the plasma structures the radio waves are generated in and propagating through. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Jovian plasma sheet morphology: particle and field observations by the Galileo spacecraft

We present results from an investigation of the plasma sheet encounter signatures observed in the Jovian magnetosphere by the Energetic Particles Detector (EPD) and Magnetometer (MAG) onboard the Galileo spacecraft. Maxima in ion flux were used to identify over 500 spacecraft encounters with the plasma sheet between radial distances from Jupiter from 20 to 140R_J during the first 25 orbits (4 years of data). Typical signatures of plasma sheet encounters show a characteristic periodicity of either 5 or 10 hours that is attributed to an oscillation in the relative distance between the spacecraft and the plasma sheet that arises from the combination of planetary rotation and offset magnetic and rotational axes. However, the energetic particle and field data also display much variability, including instances of intense fluxes having little to no periodicity that persist for several Jovian rotation periods. Abrupt changes in the mean distance between the plasma sheet and the spacecraft are suggested to account for some of the transitions between typical flux periodicities associated with plasma sheet encounters. Additional changes in the plasma sheet thickness and/or amplitude of the plasma sheet displacement from the location of the spacecraft are required to explain the cases where the periodicity breaks down but fluxes remain high. These changes in plasma sheet characteristics do not display an obvious periodicity; however, the observations suggest that dawn/dusk asymmetries in both the structure of the plasma sheet and the frequency of anomalous plasma sheet encounters are present. Evidence of a thin, well-ordered plasma sheet is found out to 110R_J in the dawn and midnight local time sectors, while the dusk magnetosphere is characterized by a thicker, more disordered plasma sheet and has a potentially more pronounced response to an impulsive trigger. Temporal variations associated with changing solar wind conditions are suggested to account for the anomalous plasma sheet encounters there.     

Magnetic field modulated dust streams from Jupiter in interplanetary space

High speed dust streams emanating from near Jupiter were first discovered by the Ulysses spacecraft in 1992. Since then the phenomenon has been re-observed by Galileo in 1995, Cassini in 2000, and Ulysses in 2004. The dust grains are expected to be charged to a potential of , which is sufficient to allow the planet's magnetic field to accelerate them away from the planet, where they are subsequently influenced by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). A similar phenomenon was observed near Saturn by Cassini. Here, we report and analyze simultaneous dust, IMF and solar wind data for all dust streams from the two Ulysses Jupiter flybys. We find that compression regions (CRs) in the IMF – regions of enhanced magnetic field – precede most dust streams. Furthermore, the duration of a dust stream is roughly comparable with that of the precedent CR, and the occurrence of a dust stream and the occurrence of the previous CR are separated by a time interval that depends on the distance to Jupiter. The intensity of the dust streams and their precedent CRs are also correlated, but this correlation is only evident at distances from the planet no greater than 2 AU. Combining these observations, we argue that CRs strongly affect dust streams, probably by deflecting dust grain trajectories, so that they can reach the spacecraft and be detected by its dust sensor.     

Evidence for accelerated electrons upstream from Jupiter's bow shock: Ulysses results

Several transient increases of electrons with energies in the range 40–100 keV have been detected upstream and immediately downstream from the Jovian bow shock (and only in these regions), by instruments on the Ulysses spacecraft during February 1992. The energy spectra of these electrons differ markedly from the energy spectrum of the trapped magnetospheric electrons measured by the same instrument. Two populations of the upstream electrons were identified. Type I electrons appear at times when the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field at the spacecraft could have been tangent to the Jovian bow shock surface thus paralleling, for the first time at another planetary bow shock, the rather well understood situation at Earth's bow shock. Type II electrons have the same energy spectrum as Type I electrons, but are not so clearly associated with the tangent field-line condition. They occur at high southerly latitudes only while the Type I electrons are detected both on the inbound and outbound passages. Type II electrons have never been reported at the Earth's bow shock or any other planetary bow shock. Under the assumption that the field line that goes through Ulysses connects to the bow shock in a straight line, two possible explanations for the Type II electrons may be: (1) very large distortions of the bow shock surface, perhaps caused by deformations of the magnetopause, may permit the tangent condition; and (2) upstream electrons are preferentially, but not necessarily, accelerated when the IMF is tangent to the bow-shock surface.     

Influence of the magnetic field on the density distribution of solar wind protons and cometary ions in the shock layer ahead of cometary ionospheres

The “mass loading” of the solar wind by cometary ions produced by the photoionization of neutral molecules outflowing from the cometary nucleus plays a major role in the interaction of the solar wind with cometary atmospheres. In particular, this process leads to a decrease in the solar wind velocity with a transition from supersonic velocities to subsonic ones through the bow shock. The so-called single-fluid approximation, in which the interacting plasma flows are considered as a single fluid, is commonly used in modeling such an interaction. However, it is occasionally necessary to know the distribution of parameters for the components of the interacting plasma flows. For example, when the flow of the cometary dust component in the interplanetary magnetic field is considered, the dust particle charge, which depends significantly on the composition of the surrounding plasma, needs to be known. In this paper, within the framework of a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic model of the solar wind flow around cometary ionospheres, we have managed to separately obtain the density distributions of solar wind protons and cometary ions between the bow shock and the cometary ionopause (in the shock layer). The influence of the interplanetary magnetic field on the position of the point of intersection between the densities with the formation of a region near the ionopause where the proton density is essentially negligible compared to the density of cometary ions is investigated. Such a region was experimentally detected by the Vega-2 spacecraft when investigating Comet Halley in March 1986. The results of the model considered below are compared with some experimental data obtained by the Giotto spacecraft under the conditions of flow around Comets Halley and Grigg–Skjellerup in 1986 and 1992, respectively. Unfortunately, our results of calculations on Comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko are only predictive in character, because the trajectory of the Rosetta spacecraft, which manoeuvred near its surface for several months, is complex.     

Interaction of interplanetary shocks with the bow shock

Fast forward interplanetary (IP) shocks have been identified as a source of large geomagnetic disturbances. However, the shocks can evolve in the solar wind, they are modified by interaction with the bow shock and during their propagation through the magnetosheath. A few previous papers refer the inclination and deceleration of the IP shock front in this region. Our contribution continues this effort and presents the study of an IP shock interaction with the bow shock. Since the bow shock is a reversed fast shock, the interaction of the IP shock and bow shock is a problem of interaction of two fast MHD shocks.

We compare profiles of magnetic field and plasma parameters observed by several spacecraft in the solar wind and magnetosheath with the profiles of the same parameters resulting from the MHD numerical model. The MHD model suggests that the interaction of an IP shock with the bow shock results in an inward bow shock displacement that is followed by its outward motion. Such motion will result in an indentation propagating along the bow shock surface. This scenario is confirmed by multipoint observations. Moreover, the model confirms also previous suggestions on the IP shock deceleration in the magnetosheath.     

Slow-mode shock candidate in the Jovian magnetosheath

We discuss some interesting plasma observations in the Jovian magnetosheath by the onboard plasma instruments of the Cassini spacecraft during the 2000-2001 Jupiter flyby. We propose that the observations are consistent with a slow-mode shock transition. In the terrestrial magnetosheath, a number of observations have been made that are consistent with slow-mode waves or shocks. In addition, a number of observations have established that, at least occasionally, slow-mode structures form at the plasma sheet-lobe boundary in the terrestrial magnetotail, related to X lines associated with reconnection. There has been only one previously reported observation of a slow-mode shock-like transition in the Jovian plasma environment. This observation was made in the dayside magnetosheath. The observation we report here was made well downstream of the magnetosphere in Jupiter’s magnetosheath, at local time ∼19:10. For our analysis we have used the data from the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) and the Magnetometer (MAG). The bow shock crossings observed by Cassini ranged downstream to −600 R_J from the planet     

On the overtaking interaction of typical shock waves in the solar wind flow

The interaction of traveling fast solar shock waves with other fast shock waves generated previously is considered in terms of magnetohydrodynamics for various solar wind parameters. The shocks are not piston ones and move freely in the flow. The magnetic structure in the interplanetary magnetic field emerging after the shock interaction is shown to correspond to the well-known magnetic configuration commonly observed on spacecraft or the classical Hundhausen R model. A head-on collision of solar shock waves with the boundary of a magnetic cloud is considered. It is pointed out that a slow shockwave refracted into the magnetic cloud can appear at an oblique collision of the shock with the cloud boundary. The results clarify our understanding of the available spacecraft data.     

A hybrid simulation of Mercury’s magnetosphere for the MESSENGER encounters in year 2008

The latest measurements from the two encounters of the MESSENGER spacecraft in year 2008 have discovered several interesting features of the magnetosphere of Mercury. We have performed high-resolution 3D hybrid model calculations to simulate the solar wind interaction with the Hermean magnetosphere during the first two Mercury encounters of the MESSENGER spacecraft in 2008. It is found that the global structure of the Hermean magnetosphere is significantly controlled by the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field. The bow shock size and shape and the magnetotail configuration have very large differences in these two encounters with northward-pointing and southward-pointing interplanetary magnetic field, respectively. Comparisons are also given with the observed magnetic field profiles and the computational results. In general, good agreement can be found including the interesting feature of the relatively thick magnetopause current layer at outbound measurements. Our work shows that 3D hybrid simulation is a promising method to study in detail the Hermean magnetosphere in parallel with the post-MOI observations of the MESSENGER spacecraft and the Bepi-Colombo mission in future.     

Quasiperiodic Jovian Radio bursts: observations from the Ulysses Radio and Plasma Wave Experiment

The Ulysses flyby of Jupiter has permitted the detection of a variety of quasiperiodic magnetospheric phenomena. In this paper, Unified Radio and Plasma Wave Experiment (URAP) observations of quasiperiodic radio bursts are presented. There appear to be two preferred periods of short-term variability in the Jovian magnetosphere, as indicated by two classes of bursts, one with 40 min periodicity, the other with 15 min periodicity. The URAP radio direction determination capability provides clear evidence that the 40 min bursts originate near the southern Jovian magnetic pole, whereas the source location of the 15 min bursts remains uncertain. These bursts may be the signatures of quasiperiodic electron acceleration in the Jovian magnetosphere; however, only the 40 min bursts occur in association with observed electron bursts of similar periodicity. Both classes of bursts show some evidence of solar wind control. In particular, the onset of enhanced 40 min burst activity is well correlated with the arrival of high-velocity solar wind streams at Jupiter, thereby providing a remote monitor of solar wind conditions at Jupiter.     

Solar Cycle Effects on the Dynamics of Jupiter’s and Saturn’s Magnetospheres

The giant planetary magnetospheres surrounding Jupiter and Saturn respond in quite different ways, compared to Earth, to changes in upstream solar wind conditions. Spacecraft have visited Jupiter and Saturn during both solar cycle minima and maxima. In this paper we explore the large-scale structure of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) upstream of Saturn and Jupiter as a function of solar cycle, deduced from solar wind observations by spacecraft and from models. We show the distributions of solar wind dynamic pressure and IMF azimuthal and meridional angles over the changing solar cycle conditions, detailing how they compare to Parker predictions and to our general understanding of expected heliospheric structure at 5 and 9 AU. We explore how Jupiter’s and Saturn’s magnetospheric dynamics respond to varying solar wind driving over a solar cycle under varying Mach number regimes, and consider how changing dayside coupling can have a direct effect on the nightside magnetospheric response. We also address how solar UV flux variability over a solar cycle influences the plasma and neutral tori in the inner magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, and estimate the solar cycle effects on internally driven magnetospheric dynamics. We conclude by commenting on the effects of the solar cycle in the release of heavy ion plasma into the heliosphere, ultimately derived from the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.     

On one mechanism for the generation of a reverse solar wind shock in the magnetosheath in front of the Earth’s magnetosphere

A possible mechanism for the generation of a reverse fast shock in the magnetosheath in the solar wind flow around the Earth’s magnetosphere is considered. It is shown that such a shock can emerge through the breaking of a nonlinear fast magnetosonic compression wave reflected from the magnetopause toward the bow shock rear. In this case, the magnetopause is represented as a tangential discontinuity with a zero normal magnetic field component at it and the mechanism under consideration is assumed to be secondary with respect to the sudden disturbance of the bow shock-Earth’s magnetosphere system by a nonstationary solar wind shock. A possible confirmation of the process under study by in-situ SC3 experimental observations of the bow shock front motion on the Cluster spacecraft is pointed out.     

Observations of Electromagnetically Coupled Dust in the Jovian Magnetosphere

We report on dust measurements obtained during the seventh orbit of the Galileo spacecraft about Jupiter. The most prominent features observed are highly time variable dust streams recorded throughout the Jovian system. The impact rate varied by more than an order of magnitude with a 5 and 10 hour periodicity, which shows a correlation with Galileo's position relative to the Jovian magnetic field. This behavior can be qualitatively explained by strong coupling of nanometer-sized dust to the Jovian magnetic field. In addition to the 5 and 10 h periodicities, a longer period which is compatible with Io's orbital period is evident in the dust impact rate. This feature indicates that Io most likely is the source of the dust streams. During a close (3,095 km altitude) flyby at Ganymede on 5 April 1997 an enhanced rate of dust impacts has been observed, which suggests that Ganymede is a source of ejecta particles. Within a distance of about 25 R_J(Jupiter radius, R_J= 71,492 km) from Jupiter impacts of micrometer-sized particles have been recorded which could be particles on bound orbits about Jupiter. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Giant magnetospheres in our solar system: Jupiter and Saturn compared

We review the current knowledge about the two biggest magnetospheres in our solar system based on the significant progress made with data from the Cassini spacecraft in orbit around Saturn since 2004, and based on the last mission to Jupiter by the Galileo spacecraft between 1995 and 2003. In addition we take into account new observations of the Hubble Space Telescope and other telescopes as well as the latest computer simulation efforts.     

Cassini UVIS observations of Jupiter's auroral variability

The Cassini spacecraft Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) obtained observations of Jupiter's auroral emissions in H₂ band systems and H Lyman-α from day 275 of 2000 (October 1), to day 81 of 2001 (March 22). Much of the globally integrated auroral variability measured with UVIS can be explained simply in terms of the rotation of Jupiter's main auroral arcs with the planet. These arcs were also imaged by the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on Hubble Space Telescope (HST). However, several brightening events were seen by UVIS in which the global auroral output increased by a factor of 2-4. These events persisted over a number of hours and in one case can clearly be tied to a large solar coronal mass ejection event. The auroral UV emissions from these bursts also correspond to hectometric radio emission (0.5-16 MHz) increases reported by the Galileo Plasma Wave Spectrometer (PWS) and Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Spectrometer (RPWS) experiments. In general, the hectometric radio data vary differently with longitude than the UV data because of radio wave beaming effects. The 2 largest events in the UVIS data were on 2000 day 280 (October 6) and on 2000 days 325-326 (November 20-21). The global brightening events on November 20-21 are compared with corresponding data on the interplanetary magnetic field, solar wind conditions, and energetic particle environment. ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) solar wind data was numerically propagated from the Earth to Jupiter with an MHD code and compared to the observed event. A second class of brief auroral brightening events seen in HST (and probably UVIS) data that last for ∼2 min is associated with auroral flares inside the main auroral ovals. On January 8, 2001, from 18:45-19:35 UT UVIS H₂ band emissions from the north polar region varied quasiperiodically. The varying emissions, probably due to auroral flares inside the main auroral oval, are correlated with low-frequency quasiperiodic radio bursts in the 0.6-5 kHz Galileo PWS data.     

Relationship between interplanetary (IP) parameters and geomagnetic indices during IP shock events of 2005

In the present study, we investigate the possible relationship of IP parameters of solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field with ground-based geomagnetic indices. To carry out the study, we take all the IP shock events listed by Proton Monitor onboard Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) during 2005, and plot the time variations of all the IP parameters and geomagnetic parameters (±5 days), centered at the shock arrival time. Next, we obtain scatter plots of absolute values of solar wind parameters such as Vsw, Nsw and Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) components Bx, By, Bz and total B with the values of geomagnetic parameters such as Dst, Kp indices, dayside Magnetopause (MP) distance and Cosmic-Ray Neutron Monitor count (CRNM). The scatter plots show that before the IP shock, the pattern is random with no clear relationship. Following the shock, a clear pattern emerges with a type of relationship being seen — clear for SHARP shocks and less clear for DIFFUSE shocks. A total of 10 shock events for 2005 have been studied. Typical examples of this behaviour are the shock events of January 21, 2005 and May 15, 2005. Our study suggests a definite correlation between changes in the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field parameters and ground-based geomagnetic response. We are trying to obtain quantitative relationships between these for shock events of 2005.     

An axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic model for the interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium

We numerically analyze a magnetohydrodynamic, steady-state model for the interaction of a spherically symmetric solar wind with a three-component local interstellar medium (LISM), which is composed of plasma, hydrogen atoms, and a magnetic field. The magnetic field is assumed to be parallel to the velocity in the LISM. In this case, the model is axisymmetric. We study the effects of magnetic field on the plasma-flow geometry and on the distribution of hydrogen-atom parameters. In particular, we show that the presence of hydrogen atoms does not affect the qualitative change in the shape of the bow shock, the heliopause, and the solar-wind shock with increasing strength of the interstellar magnetic field. The presence of a magnetic field in the LISM can strongly affect the parameters of the energetic hydrogen atoms originated in the solar wind, although its effect on the “hydrogen wall” observed with the GHRS instrument onboard the HST spacecraft (Linsky and Wood 1996) is marginal.     

Initial Venus Express magnetic field observations of the Venus bow shock location at solar minimum

In this study, magnetic field measurements obtained by the Venus Express spacecraft are used to determine the bow shock position at solar minimum. The best fit of bow shock location from solar zenith angle 20-120° gives a terminator bow shock location of 2.14 R_V (1 R_V=6052 km) which is 1600 km closer to Venus than the 2.40 R_V determined during solar maximum conditions, a clear indication of the solar cycle variation of the Venus bow shock location. The best fit to the subsolar bow shock is 1.32 R_V, with the bow shock completely detached. Finally, a global bow shock model at solar minimum is constructed based on our best-fit empirical bow shock in the sunlit hemisphere and an asymptotic limit of the distant bow shock which is a Mach cone under typical Mach number of 5.5 at solar minimum. We also describe our approach to making the measurements and processing the data in a challenging magnetic cleanliness environment. An initial evaluation of the accuracy of measurements shows that the data are of a quality comparable to magnetic field measurements made onboard magnetically clean spacecraft.     

Deep Space 1 at comet 19P/Borrelly: Magnetic field and plasma observations

On September 22, 2001 the Deep Space 1 spacecraft performed a flyby at comet 19P/Borrelly at a solar distance of 1.36 AU leading the Earth by 74^° in longitude. The spacecraft-comet distance at closest approach was 2171 km. The bow shock had a magnetic compression ratio of 2.5 at a distance of 147 100 km from the nucleus. Deep Space 1 first entered the sheath region essentially from the north polar region. Fluctuations from the cometary ion pickup were present throughout the sheath region and even well upstream of the shock, as expected. The magnetic field pileup region had a peak field strength of 83 nT and was shown to be consistent with a pressure equal to the solar wind ram pressure. The peak field location was offset from the time of closest approach. It is uncertain whether this is a spatial or temporal variation. Draping of magnetic fields around the nucleus was sought, but evidence for this was not apparent in the data. A possible explanation is that the interplanetary solar wind was composed of turbulent short-scale fields, and thus the fields were not symmetric about the point of closest approach. During the flyby phase there were in general few intervals of ACE data where there were large scale Parker spiral fields. With the addition of plasma data, the shock properties are investigated. The characteristics of magnetic draping, pileup and fluctuations are explored. These comet 19P/Borrelly results are contrasted with other cometary flyby results.