Evaluating the ionospheric mass source for Jupiter's magnetosphere: An ionospheric outflow model for the auroral regions
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Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Ionospheric outflow is the flow of plasma initiated by a loss of equilibrium along a magnetic field line which induces an ambipolar electric field due to the separation of electrons and ions in a gravitational field and other mass dependant sources. We have developed an ionospheric outflow model using the transport equations to determine the number of particles that flow into the outer magnetosphere of Jupiter. The model ranges from 1400 km in altitude above the 1 bar level to 2.5 RJ along the magnetic field line and considers H+ and H3+ as the main ion constituents. Previously, only pressure gradients and gravitational forces were considered in modelling polar wind. However, at Jupiter we need to evaluate the affect of field‐aligned currents present in the auroral regions due to the breakdown of corotation in the magnetosphere, along with the centrifugal force exerted on the particles due to the fast planetary rotation rate. The total number flux from both hemispheres is found to be 1.3‐1.8 x 1028 s‐1 comparable in total number flux to the Io plasma source. The mass flux is lower due to the difference in ion species. This influx of protons from the ionosphere into the inner and middle magnetosphere needs to be included in future assessments of global flux tube dynamics and composition of the magnetosphere system.
Date Issued
2020-07-01
Date Acceptance
2020-05-07
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 2020, 125 (7)
ISSN
2169-9380
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume
125
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
©2020. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Identifier
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2019JA027727
Grant Number
ST/N000692/1
ST/K001051/1
Subjects
0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences
0401 Atmospheric Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e2019JA027727
Date Publish Online
2020-06-19