Characteristics of Jupiter's auroral acceleration region

Jupiter’s dynamic auroral region is the signature of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. The magnetospheric drivers of the emission are relatively well understood, yet the high-latitude characteristics of the interaction have not been measure in-situ. Ahead of Juno’s arrival next summer, we use HST STIS observations of Jupiter’s auroral emission to infer the location of Jupiter’s auroral acceleration region and the properties of the precipitating auroral electrons. We analyze two images of Jupiter’s northern emission, determining the precipitating electron energy and incident energy flux for the main aurora, Io spot, Ganymede footprint, and flare regions. The resulting relationships between energy flux and electron precipitation energy for the main auroral emission are compared to the theoretical relationship derived by Lundin & Sandahl [1978] for a range of auroral region locations, and temperatures and densities appropriate for the jovian system.