Dust in jupiter''s magnetosphere: Effect on magnetospheric electrons and ions

The interaction of the Jovian energetic radiation belt electrons, and the Jovian plasma, with an ambient dust population is examined. Firstly the distribution of dust, ejected from Io, in the inner magnetosphere is calculated. Using the mass loss in submicron particles of ~13g/sec, which is required to model the intensity and shape of the Jovian ring in the model of Morfill etal. (1980b), it is possible to quantitatively calculate losses of magnetospheric ions and electrons due to direct collisions with charged dust particles as well as multiple Coulomb scattering with resultant losses in the Jovian atmosphere. It is shown that the magnitude and radial dependence of the losses are sufficient to explain the electron measurements, although the possibility that some other process may be more effective cannot be ruled out. The same dust population has, on the other hand, no significant effect on the plasma, which should therefore be transported essentially loss free, except within the Jovian ring, if there are no other processes involved. Comparison with the data shows that loss free transport outside the ring does indeed satisfy the measurement constraints.     

Observations at the inner edge of the Jovian current sheet: evidence for a dynamic magnetosphere

It is widely recognized that Io, the innermost of the Galilean satellites, releases matter into the rapidly-rotating Jovian magnetosphere at rates that may be as high as a ton per second. Following ionization, this iogenic, heavy-ion plasma dominates the dynamics of the Jovian magnetosphere. On average this plasma must be lost at a rate that balances its generation but we do not know whether this process is steady or intermittent. Measurements by the Galileo magnetometer suggest that this process is unsteady. By estimating the magnetic and particle stresses from these observations, we further can derive a mass density profile that is consistent with earlier measurements of the current sheet density and that is consistent with estimates of the radial transport of mass in the middle Jovian magnetosphere.     

Mass-injection rate from Io into the Io plasma torus

Theoretical arguments have been presented to the effect that both plasma and energy are supplied to the Jovian magnetosphere primarily from internal sources. If we assume that Io is the source of plasma for the Jovian magnetosphere and that outward flow of plasma from the torus is the means of drawing from the kinetic energy of rotation of Jupiter to drive magnetospheric phenomena, we can obtain a new, independent estimate of the rate of mass injection from Io into the Io plasma torus. We explicitly assume the solar wind supplies neither plasma nor energy to the Jovian magnetosphere in significant amounts. The power expended by the Jovian magnetosphere is supplied by torus plasma falling outward through the corotational-centrifugal-potential field. A lower limit to the rate of mass injection into the torus, which on the average must equal the rate of mass loss from the torus, is therefore derivable if we adopt a value for the power expended to drive the various magnetospheric phenomena. This method yields an injection rate of at least 10³ kg/sec, a value in agreement with the results obtained by two other independent methods of estimating mass injection rate. If this injection rate from Io and extraction of energy from Jupiter's kinetic energy of rotation has been maintained over geologic time, then approximately 0.1% of Io's mass (principally in the form of sulfur and oxygen) has been lost to the Jovian magnetosphere, and Jupiter's spin rate has been reduced by less than 0.1%.     

Charged dust in the outer planetary magnetospheres

Interplanetary dust grains entering the Jovian plasmasphere become charged, and those in a certain size range get magneto-gravitationally trapped in the corotating plasmasphere. The trajectories of such dust grains intersect the orbits of one or more of the Galilean satellites. Orbital calculations of micron sized dust grains show that they impact the outermost satellite Callisto predominantly on its leading face, while they impact the inner three — Io, Europa and Ganymede — predominantly on the trailing face. These results are offered as an explanation of the observed brightness asymmetry between the leading and trailing faces of the outer three Galilean satellites. The albedo of Io is likely to be determined by its volcanism.     

Wave propagation in the magnetosphere of Jupiter

The magnetosphere of Jupiter has been the subject of extensive research in recent years due to its detectable radio emissions. Observations in the decimetric radio band have been particular helpful in ascertaining the general shape of the Jovian magnetic field, which is currently believed to be a dipole with minor perturbations. Although there is no direct evidence for thermal plasma in the magnetosphere of Jupiter, theoretical considerations about the physical processes that must occur in the ionosphere and magnetosphere surrounding Jupiter have lead to estimates of the thermal plasma distribution. These models of the Jovian magnetic field and thermal plasma distribution, specify the characteristic plasma and cyclotron frequencies in the magnetosplasma and thereby provide a basis for estimating thelocal electromagnetic and hydromagnetic noise around Jupiter. Spatial analogs of the well-known Clemmow-Mullaly-Allis (CMA) diagrams have been constructed to identify the loci of electron and ion resonances and cutoffs for the different field and plasma models. Regions of reflection, mode coupling, and probable amplification are readily identified. The corresponding radio noise properties may be estimated qualitatively on the basis of these various electromagnetic and hydromagnetic wave mode regions. Frequency bands and regions of intense natural noise may be estimated. On the basis of the models considered, the radio noise properties around Jupiter are quite different from those encountered in the magnetosphere around the Earth. Wave particle interactions are largely confined to the immediate vicinity of the zenographic equatorial plane and guided propagation from one hemisphere to the other apparently does not occur, except for hydromagnetic modes of propagation. The characteristics of these local signals are indicative of the physical processes occurring in the Jovian magnetosphere. Thus, as a remote sensing tool, their observation will be a vital asset in the exploration of Jupiter.     

Interaction of the Galilean Moons with their plasma environments

The Galilean moons, especially Io, affect not just their local environment but also the Jovian ionosphere at the ends of the flux tubes connected to the moons. Moreover, the mass added to the magnetosphere by Io affects much of the rest of the magnetosphere. The magnetosphere is energized by this mass-loading, powering the aurora, accelerating radiation belt particles, and generating radio emissions. This review examines how the mass-loading affects the magnetosphere and ionosphere; the differences in the interactions of Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto; and some of the kinetic phenomena associated with the interaction.     

A cometary ionosphere model for Io

The ionosphere of Jupiter's satellite Io, discovered by the Pioneer 10 radio-occultation experiment, cannot easily be understood in terms of a model of a gravitationally bound, Earth-like ionosphere. Io's gravitational field is so weak that a gravitationally bound ionosphere would probably be blown away by the ram force of the Jovian magnetospheric wind — i.e., the plasma corotating in the Jovian magnetosphere. We propose here a model in which the material for Io's atmosphere and ionosphere is drawn from the ionosphere of Jupiter through a Birkeland current system that is driven by the potential induced across Io by the Jovian corotation electric field. We argue that the ionization near Io is caused by a comet-like interaction between the corotating plasma and Io's atmosphere. The initial interaction employs the critical velocity phenomenon proposed many years ago by Alfvén. Further ionization is produced by the impact of Jovian trapped energetic electrons, and the ionization thus created is swept out ahead of Io in its orbit. Thus, we suggest that what has been reported as a day-night ionospheric asymmetry is in fact an upstream-downstream asymmetry caused by the Jovian magnetospheric wind.Paper dedicated to Professor Hannes Alfvén on the occasion of his 70th birthday, 30th May, 1978.     

The nature of the orbits of charged dust injected into the Jovian magnetosphere during the tidal break-up of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9

Assuming that the spin and magnetic axis of Jupiter are strictly parallel and that the grain charge remains constant we have derived two integrals of the 3D equations of motion of charged dust grains moving within the co-rotating regions of the Jovian magnetosphere taking into account both planetary gravitation and magnetospheric rotation. We then apply this model to study the fate of fine dust injected into the Jovian magnetosphere as a result of the tidal disruption of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 during its first encounter with Jupiter in July 1992. This analysis, which uses the integrals of the equation of motion rather than the equation of motion itself as was done by Horanyi (1994), does not allow us to calculate the orbits or the orbital evolution of the grains. But it does allow us to construct the spatial regions to which the grains are confined, at least initially before evolutionary effects take over. We have chosen three points along the path of the disintegrating comet for the injection of dust and used two values for the uncertain floating potential of the dust in the inner Jovian magnetosphere. Grains can have three different fates, depending on their size, their acquired potential and their point of injection. While the smallest grains are quickly lost by collision with the planet at high latitudes independent of the sign of their charge, those in an intermediate but narrow size range, injected near the equatorial plane can be trapped in a region close to it, this being true for both positive and negative grains. While somewhat larger positive grains may be initially ejected outward by the co-rotational electric force, similar negative grains, pulled inward by this force collide with the planet at low latitudes. In all cases the largest grains, which are dominated by planetary gravity, initially escape from the inner magnetosphere by following in the path of the comet.Using a detailed time dependent numerical calculation of the jovicentric orbits of the charged dust debris of the disintegrating comet, that allows for variation in the grain potential, while also allowing for perturbations of the grain orbits due to solar radiation pressure and solar gravity Horanyi (1994) found that grains in the size range (1.5m <a < 2.5m) which initially make large excursions from the planet, will eventually form a ring in the radial range 4.5R _J <r < 6R _J . Our present analytical calculation cannot make such a prediction about the evolutionary fate of the dust debris. It can, however, estimate the size of the grains that are initially confined to regions near the points of injection, before evolutionary effects become important.     

Characterization of Jovian plasma-embedded dust particles

As the data from space missions and laboratories improve, a research domain combining plasmas and charged dust is gaining in prominence. Our solar system provides many natural laboratories such as planetary rings, comet comae and tails, ejecta clouds around moons and asteroids, and Earth's noctilucent clouds for which to closely study plasma-embedded cosmic dust. One natural laboratory to study electromagnetically controlled cosmic dust has been provided by the Jovian dust streams and the data from the instruments which were on board the Galileo spacecraft. Given the prodigious quantity of dust poured into the Jovian magnetosphere by Io and its volcanoes resulting in the dust streams, the possibility of dusty plasma conditions exist. This paper characterizes the main parameters for those interested in studying dust embedded in a plasma with a focus on the Jupiter environment. I show how to distinguish between dust-in-plasma and dusty-plasma and how the Havnes parameter P can be used to support or negate the possibility of collective behavior of the dusty plasma. The result of applying these tools to the Jovian dust streams reveals mostly dust-in-plasma behavior. In the orbits displaying the highest dust stream fluxes, portions of orbits E4, G7, G8, C21 satisfy the minimum requirements for a dusty plasma. However, the P parameter demonstrates that these mild dusty plasma conditions do not lead to collective behavior of the dust stream particles.     

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.     

Magnetospheric environments of outer planet rings: Influence of Saturn's axially symmetric magnetic field

The Jovian and Uranian rings exist within severe energetic particle and plasma environments where magnetosphere-related losses of small ring particles and surface reflectance alteration by sputtering are likely to be important. In contrast, the main Saturnian rings exist within a zone where magnetospheric losses and surface alteration effects are negligible, primarily because of solid-body absorption of inwardly diffusing magnetospheric particles. It is shown here that solid-body absorption of radially diffusing ions is a much more efficient process in the inner Saturnian magnetosphere than in the inner Jovian and Uranian magnetospheres because of the near axial symmetry of the planetary magnetic field with respect to the rotational equatorial plane. This is especially true for continuous rings (as opposed to satellites) for which the approximate time scale against absorption is the particle bounce period in an axially symmetric field, whereas it is the particle drift period in an asymmetric field. Assuming comparable diffusion rates, inward transport of magnetospheric particles is much more strongly inhibited in the inner Saturnian magnetosphere than in the inner magnetospheres of Jupiter and Uranus. This remains true when only rings of comparable widths and optical depths are considered (e.g., the F ring at Saturn and the ϵ ring at Uranus). The most extreme possible consequence of this difference in solid-body absorption efficiency may have been the preferential development of a radially extensive, optically thick ring system at Saturn where magnetospheric losses are minimized in comparison to those at Jupiter and Uranus. A more definite consequence is that the Uranian rings are most probably directly exposed to nearly the same proton fluxes measured at Voyager 2's closest approach. Exposure of ring particle surfaces to radiation belt ion fluxes therefore remains as a viable explanation for the low albedos of the Uranian rings.     

Theory of decametric radio emissions from Jupiter

It is suggested that the Jovian decametric emissions (DAM) originate in a cyclotron instability of weakly relativistic electrons trapped in the Jovian magnetic field. The resulting radiation has a group velocity in the magnetosphheric plasma which may be of order 10²km/sec, and thus takes much more time to escape the magnetosphere than if the group velocity were at or near the speed of light. Therefore, the asymmetry of the Io phase with respect to sources east and west of the Earth-Jupiter line does not imply an asymmetric beaming of DAM; it is caused by the delay the waves experience in traversing the magnetosphere. The frequency drifts of milli- and decasecond bursts are also explained. It is found that the rotation of the magnetosphere can play an important role, since the observer views the propagation velocity of the waves as the sum of their group velocity and the velocity of the medium itself. The rotation velocity is in opposite directions, relative to the observer, for sources east and west of the Earth-Jupiter line; the resultant vector addition gives positive frequency drifts for decasecond bursts from the early and fourth sources, and negative drifts for bursts from the main and third sources. The negative drifts of millisecond bursts may be the result of large density gradients of plasma in a temporarily compressed magnetosphere.     

The atmosphere of Io

Observations of Io suggest that it may have an atmosphere in which sodium vapor, ammonia, and nitrogen are important constituents. Several atmospheric models consisting of these gases are treated here. These are tested as a function of total content against the Pioneer 10 observations and for stability against escape. The results suggest that the atmosphere is very tenuous and that the interpretation of the ionosphere detected by Pioneer 10 by a static model may be inconsistent with the sodium cloud observations. It is postulated that ionization may also be escaping and that sodium may be comparable in content in the atmosphere with some molecular constituent such as NH₃ or N₂. Sodium and this molecular component then dominate the atmosphere. It is also suggested that particle precipitation contributes to heating of the atmosphere and to the production of ionization; furthermore, the difference between day- and nighttime ionospheres and possible trailing and leading side effects may relate to the nature of the particle energy distributions. These distributions may be the result of the peculiar interaction of Io with the Jovian magnetosphere.     

Sweeping-out of dust from spiral galaxy as a result of “magnetic sling” effect

A new mechanism of sweeping out of dust grains beyond galactic disks both in the radial direction along the galactic plane and in the vertical, cross-disk direction is proposed. The mechanism is driven by the interaction of dust grains with the bisymmetric nonstationary magnetic field of the galaxy, whose lines are curved and corotate with the stellar spiral density wave responsible for the arms. We attribute the radial transfer of interstellar dust grains in the plane of galactic disks to the fact that charged dust grains are “glued” to magnetic field lines and are therefore pushed outward because of the rotation of magnetic field lines and their tilt with respect to the radial direction parallel to the disk plane. In addition, dust is swept out vertically in the cross-disk direction because of the drift motion in crossed magnetic and gravitational fields (both are parallel to the galactic plane). Numerical computations of the motion of dust grains in real magneto-gravitational fields with the allowance for the drag force from interstellar gas show that the time scale of dust grain transport beyond galactic disks is on the order of 1 Gyr or shorter.     

Thermal structure of the Jovian plasmasphere

An equation of heat transport in the Jovian magnetosphere is formulated and solved in the L range between 2 and 7. Sources of thermal energy include the heating associated with inward radial diffusion and a hypothetical heat supply originating from Io's dynamo action. The principal sink of the thermal energy is charge exchange in Io's hydrogen torus. In order to explain the density and temperature profile reported by Frank et al. (1976), the presence of the heat source at Io is essential and the density of the torus hydrogen has to be considerably lower than the value inferred from L_α observations by Carlson and Judge (1975). Radial diffusion represents the principal heating mechanism for plasma at very low L values.     

Are Io's Alfvén wings filamented? Galileo observations

The interaction of Io with the Jovian magnetosphere generates auroral and radio emissions. The underlying electron acceleration process is not understood and few observations exist to constrain the theoretical models. The source of energy for the electron acceleration is in all likelihood supplied from the Alfvén wings that stretch out from both poles of Io into the two Jovian hemispheres. The form of the current system associated with the Alfvén wings has been disputed, some suggesting that the greatly slowed flow near Io implies that a steady current loop links Io to Jupiter's ionosphere, others arguing that the return waves appear only downstream of Io and others suggesting that both forms develop. Given the finite inclination of the Alfvén wings implied by the finite value of the Alfvén Mach number and the strong reflection that occurs at the boundary of the Io torus, we argue that no steady current loop can be invoked between Io and Jupiter's ionosphere. However, the energetics of the auroral and radio emissions imply that most of the energy in the Alfvén wings is transformed into electron acceleration at high-latitudes, that is, outside the Io torus. The dilemma then is to understand how a large fraction of the power penetrates the reflecting boundary. We present data from Galileo's multiple flybys of Io that suggest that the coupling with the Jovian ionosphere is mediated by filamentary Alfvén wings associated with electromagnetic waves propagating out of the torus. In particular, we report on the systematic observation, within the cross-section of Io's Alfvén wings and in their immediate vicinity, of intense electromagnetic waves at frequencies up to several times the proton gyrofrequency. We interpret these “high-frequency/small-scale” waves as the signature of a strong filamentation/fragmentation of the Alfvén wings before they reflect off of the sharp boundary gradient of the Io torus. As a consequence, we suggest that most of the primary energy is converted into “high-frequency/small-scale” electromagnetic waves that can propagate out from the torus toward Jupiter's ionosphere. Reaching high-latitudes, these waves are able to accelerate electrons to almost relativistic speeds.     

A model of the origin of the Jovian ring

Starting with the assumption that the micron-sized particles which make up the bright Jovian ring are fragments of erosive collisions between micrometeoroid projectiles and large parent bodies, a physical model of the ring is calculated. The physics of high-velocity impacts leads to a well-defined size distribution for the ejecta, the optical properties of which can be compared with observation. This gives information on the ejecta material (very likely silicates) and on the maximum size of the projectiles, which turns out to be about 0.1 μm. The origin of these projectiles is discussed, and it is concluded that dust particles ejected in volcanic activity from Io are the most likely source. The impact model leads quite naturally to a distribution in ejecta sizes, which in turn determines the structure of the ring. The largest ejecta form the bright ring, medium-sized ejecta form a disk extending all the way to the Jovian atmosphere, and the small ejecta form a faint halo, the structure of which is dominated by electromagnetic forces. In addition to the Io particles, interaction with interplanetary micrometeoroids is also considered. It is concluded that μm-sized ejecta from this source have ejection velocities which are several orders of magnitude too large, and thus cannot contribute significantly to the observed bright ring. However, the total mass ejection rate is significant. Destruction of these ejecta by the Io particles may provide additional particles for the halo.     

Sodium in the Jovian magnetosphere

Observations of sodium D-line emission from Io and the magnetosphere of Jupiter are reported. A disk-shaped cloud of sodium is found to exist in the Jovian magnetosphere with an inner edge at about 4R and an outer edge at about 10R . The gravitational scale height above the equatorial plane is a few Jovian radii. The data are interpreted in terms of a sputtering model, in which the sodium required to maintain the cloud is sputtered off the surface of Io by trapped energetic radiation-belt protons. Conditions on the atmospheric density are obtained. The Keplerian orbits attainable by such escaping sputtered atoms can provide the observed spatial distribution. The required 500-keV proton flux required to provide the 1–10 keV protons which will sputter the sodium at the surface of Io is consistent with the limiting trapped flux determined by ion-cyclotron turbulence.Publication No. 1410, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles 90024, Cal., U.S.A.     

Jovian electron jets in interplanetary space

The COSPIN/KET experiment onboard Ulysses has been monitoring the flux of 3–20 MeV electrons in interplanetary space since the launch of Ulysses in October 1990. The origin of these electrons has been known for a long time to be the Jovian magnetosphere. Propagation models assuming interplanetary diffusion of these electrons in the ideal Parker magnetic field were successfully developed in the past. The average electron flux measured by our experiment agrees with these models for most of the times before and after the Jovian flyby of February 1992, i.e. in and out of the ecliptic down to 28° S of heliographic latitude for the last data presented here (end of March 1993).However, in addition to this average flux level well accounted for by diffusion in an ideal Parker field, we have found very short duration electron events which we call “jets”, characterized by: (i) a sharp increase and decrease of flux; (ii) a spectrum identical to the electron spectrum in the Jovian magnetosphere; and (iii) a strong first-order anisotropy. These jets only occur when the magnetic field at Ulysses lies close to the direction of Jupiter, and most of the time (86% of the events) points outwards from Jupiter, i.e. has the same polarity after the flyby as the Jovian dipole (North to South). These events are interpreted as crossings by Ulysses of magnetic flux tubes or sheets directly connected to the location of the Jovian magnetosphere from which electrons escape into interplanetary space. The average thickness of these sheets is 10¹¹cm or 14 Jovian radii. These jets are clearly identified up to 0.4 a.u. before the Jupiter flyby in the ecliptic plane, and up to 0.9 a.u. out of the ecliptic.Moreover, the characteristic rocking of the electron spectrum in the Jovian magnetosphere with a 10 h periodicity is found to be present during the jets, and predominantly during them. In the past, this modulation has been reported to be present in interplanetary space as far as 1 a.u. upwind of Jupiter, a fact which cannot be accounted for by diffusion in the average Parker magnetic field. Our finding gives a simple explanation to this phenomenon, the 10 h modulation being carried by the “jet” electrons which travel with no appreciable diffusion along magnetic field lines with a direction far from the ideal Parker spiral.     

Electric potential jumps in the Io-Jupiter flux tube

The Io flux tube (IFT), along which Io interacts with the Jovian magnetosphere, is the place of plasma acceleration processes resulting in auroral like emissions, in UV, IR and Radio emissions in the decameter range. At Earth, the study of the acceleration processes is mainly made by in situ measurements. Acceleration processes at Jupiter were first deduced from the observation of a particular kind of decameter radio emissions from the IFT: the short (S-)bursts. These radio bursts present a negative drift in the time-frequency domain, which is related to the motion of the energetic electrons which produce them. The measure of their drift thus permits the kinetic energy of the electrons to be obtained, as well as its variations along the IFT which have been interpreted as electric potential jumps. Using an enhanced S-burst detection and drift measurement method, more than 1 h of quasi-continuous decametric emissions recorded at the Kharkov UTR-2 radiotelescope have been analyzed. We observe the evolution of the electron kinetic energy with the longitude of Io with a resolution of , and detect the presence of acceleration structures with characteristics being consistent with electric potential jumps of few hundred volts, and moving along the IFT in the upward direction (toward Io) at the local sound velocity.