Rotating Finger-Like Structures of Jovian Magnetodisc

interchange; Jupiter; magnetodisc; periodic; Centrifugal Forces; Direct-detection; Finger-like structure; Interchange instability; Jupiters; Magnetic curvature; Magnetic oscillations; Magnetodisk; Periodic; Rotating fingers; Geophysics; Earth and Planetary Sciences (all)

Abstract :

[en] At Jupiter, the plasma is concentrated near the centrifugal equator, forming a magnetodisc. The planet's dipole tilt induces periodic disc flapping, generating magnetic oscillations observed by spacecraft. While centrifugal forces are theorized to drive interchange instability in this system, direct detection of such structures remains challenging due to flapping-induced variabilities. However, in situ and remote sensing data reveal ∼tens-of-minute periodicities proposed to link to interchange dynamics. Using unique Juno observations, we analyze two events to: (a) resolve highly variable magnetic curvature changes during successive plasma sheet crossings and (b) identify periodic ∼30-min fluctuations in plasma measurements in the magnetodisc while Juno occupied a magnetically favorable location. These findings provide the first direct examination of interchange-related magnetic curvature evolution and plasma signatures, to advance our understanding of the magnetodisc's 3D structure and instability-driven dynamics.

Research Center/Unit :

STAR - Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research - ULiège

Disciplines :

Space science, astronomy & astrophysics

Author, co-author :

Yao, Zhonghua ; Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Xu, Y. ; Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China

Zeng, Z.L. ; Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Zhang, B. ; Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Grodent, Denis ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)

Bonfond, Bertrand ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)

Chen, Y.N. ; Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China

Dunn, W.R. ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, London, United Kingdom

Sun, J.W. ; School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China

Ebert, R.W. ; Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, United States ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, United States

Connerney, J.E.P. ; Space Research Corporation, Annapolis, United States ; NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, United States

Allegrini, F. ; Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, United States ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, United States

Language :

English

Title :

Rotating Finger-Like Structures of Jovian Magnetodisc

Publication date :

16 August 2025

Journal title :

Geophysical Research Letters

ISSN :

0094-8276

eISSN :

1944-8007

Publisher :

John Wiley and Sons Inc

Volume :

Issue :

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2025GL116277

Funders :

F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique

Funding text :

ZY acknowledges the General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 42374212), the Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund (Grant 17309124), and Project (JLFS/P\u2010702/24) of Hong Kong RGC Co\u2010funding Mechanism on Joint Laboratories with the Chinese Academy of Science. BZ is supported by the General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 42374216) and Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund (Grants 17309224, 17308723, 17315222). YX is supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under Grant 2025M770390 and the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF under Grant GZB20250099. The work at Southwest Research Institute is funded by NASA's New Frontiers Program for Juno through contract NNM06AA75C.

Available on ORBi :

since 28 August 2025

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