Article (Scientific journals)
Similarity of the Jovian satellite footprints: spots multiplicity and dynamics
Bonfond, Bertrand; Grodent, Denis; Badman, S. V. et al.
2017In Icarus, 292 (2017), p. 208–217
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
 

Files


Full Text
1-s2.0-S0019103516304547-main(1).pdf
Publisher postprint (5.69 MB)
Download

All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
Jupiter; Aurora; Hubble Space Telescope; Io; Europa; Ganymede
Abstract :
[en] In the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, the intense interaction of the satellites Io, Europa, Ganymede and Enceladus with their surrounding plasma environment leaves a signature in the aurora of the planet. Called satellite footprints, these auroral features appear either as a single spot (Europa and Enceladus) or as multiple spots (Io and Ganymede). Moreover, they can be followed by extended trailing tails in the case of Io and Europa, while no tail has been reported for Ganymede and Enceladus, yet. Here we show that all Jovian footprints can be made of several spots. Furthermore, the footprints all experience brightness variations on timescale of 2-3 minutes. We also demonstrate that the satellite location relative to the plasma sheet is not the only driver for the footprint brightness, but that the plasma environment and the magnetic field strength also play a role. These new findings demonstrate that the Europa and Ganymede footprints are very similar to the Io footprint. As a consequence, the processes expected to take place at Io, such as the bi-directional electron acceleration by Alfvén waves or the partial reflection of these waves on plasma density gradients, can most likely be extended to the other footprints, suggesting that they are indeed universal processes.
Research center :
STAR - Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research - ULiège
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Bonfond, Bertrand  ;  Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Grodent, Denis  ;  Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Badman, S. V.
Saur, J.
Gérard, Jean-Claude  ;  Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Radioti, Aikaterini ;  Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Language :
English
Title :
Similarity of the Jovian satellite footprints: spots multiplicity and dynamics
Publication date :
August 2017
Journal title :
Icarus
ISSN :
0019-1035
eISSN :
1090-2643
Publisher :
Elsevier, San Diego, United States - California
Volume :
292
Issue :
2017
Pages :
208–217
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
BELSPO - SPP Politique scientifique - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique
Available on ORBi :
since 11 January 2017

Statistics


Number of views
117 (23 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
168 (7 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
22
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
6
OpenCitations
 
18

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi