First evidence for multiple‐harmonic standing Alfvén waves in Jupiter's equatorial plasma sheet
File(s)855724_1_merged_pdf_6782655_pvxbd9.pdf (1.6 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Manners, H
Masters, A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Quasi‐periodic pulsations in the ultra‐low‐frequency band are ubiquitously observed in the jovian magnetosphere, but their source and distribution have until now been a mystery. Standing Alfvén waves on magnetic field lines have been proposed to explain these pulsations and their large range in observed periods. However, in‐situ evidence in support of this mechanism has been scarce. Here we use magnetometer data from the Galileo spacecraft to report first evidence of a multiple‐harmonic ultra‐low‐frequency event in Jupiters equatorial plasma sheet. The harmonic periods lie in the 4‐22‐min range, and the nodal structure is confined to the plasma sheet. Polarization analysis reveals several elliptically‐polarized odd harmonics, and no presence of even harmonics. The harmonic periods, their polarization, and the confinement of the wave to the plasma sheet, are strong evidence supporting the standing Alfvén wave model. Multiple‐harmonic waves therefore potentially explain the full range of periods in quasi‐periodic pulsations in Jupiters magnetosphere.
Date Issued
2019-08-28
Date Acceptance
2019-08-07
Citation
Geophysical Research Letters, 2019, 46 (16), pp.9344-9351
ISSN
0094-8276
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Start Page
9344
End Page
9351
Journal / Book Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
46
Issue
16
Copyright Statement
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Manners, H., & Masters, A. ( 2019). First evidence for multiple‐harmonic standing Alfvén waves in Jupiter's equatorial plasma sheet. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083899
Sponsor
The Royal Society
The Royal Society
Identifier
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2019GL083899
Grant Number
UF150547
RG160612
Subjects
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
2019GL083899
Date Publish Online
2019-08-12