Six pieces of evidence against the corotation enforcement theory to explain the main aurora at Jupiter

The most remarkable feature of the ultraviolet auroras at Jupiter is the ever present and almost continuous curtain of bright emissions centered on each magnetic pole and called the main emissions. According to the classical theory, it results from an electric current loop transferring momentum from the Jovian ionosphere to the magnetospheric plasma. However, predictions based on these mainstream models have been recently challenged by observations from Juno and the Hubble Space Telescope. Here we review the main contradictory observations, expose their implications for the theory and discuss promising paths forward.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure submitted to Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physic

Observing Jupiter's polar stratospheric haze with HST/STIS. An HST White Paper

The purpose of this HST white paper is to demonstrate that it is possible to monitor Jupiter's polar haze with HST/STIS without breaking the ground screening limit for bright objects. This demonstration rests on a thorough simulation of STIS output from an existing image obtained with HST/WFPC2. It is shown that the STIS NUV-MAMA + F25CIII filter assembly provides a count rate per pixel ~11 times smaller than that obtained for one pixel of WFPC2 WF3 CCD + F218W corresponding filter. This ratio is sufficiently large to cope with the bright solar light scattered by Jupiter's atmosphere, which was a lesser concern for WFPC2 CCD safety. These STIS images would provide unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution observations of small-scale stratospheric aerosol structures, possibly associated with Jupiter's complex FUV aurora.Comment: HST white paper submitted to the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI

How bright is the Io UV footprint?

The electro-magnetic interaction between Io and the Jovian magnetosphere generates a perturbation in the magnetospheric plasma which propagates along the magnetic field lines and creates auroral footprint emissions in both hemispheres. Recent results showed that this footprint is formed of several spots and an extended tail. Each feature is suggested to correspond to a different step in the propagation of the perturbation and in the electron energization processes. The present study focuses on the variations of the spots' brightness at different timescales from minutes to years through the rotation period of Jupiter. It relies on FUV images acquired with the STIS and ACS instruments onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. Since the footprint is composed of several localized features, a good understanding of the emission region geometry is critical to derive the actual vertical brightness and thus the precipitated energy flux. We developed a 3D emission model in order to assess as precisely as possible the respective contribution of each individual feature and to correctly estimate the precipitating energy flux. As far as the brightness variations on timescales of minutes are concerned, we will present results from the high time resolution campaign executed during summer 2009. On timescale of several hours, we will show that the variation of the emitted power as a function of the location of Io in the plasma torus suggests that the Jovian surface magnetic field strength is an important controlling parameter. Finally, the measured precipitated power and particle fluxes will be discussed in comparison with recent simulations considering both Alfvén waves filamentation and electron acceleration when the Alfvén waves become inertial

An eye on the auroras: coordinated observations of Jupiter from Hubble and Juno

One could think that with a spacecraft orbiting a planet, there would be no further need for Earth-based observations. One could not be more wrong. In this presentation, we will report on recent results of coordinated observations of the UV auroras from Hubble’s STIS instrument and measurements from the Juno spacecraft currently orbiting Jupiter. It began during the approach phase, when Juno was still cruising in the interplanetary medium, serving as a solar wind monitor as STIS scrutinize the auroral response to solar wind shocks. Other studies made use of the field and particle measurements on board Juno to characterize the size of the magnetosphere, the presence of magnetic reconnection or the stretching of the magnetic field lines combined with HST observations of the auroras in order to connect local and global scales. Others made use of HST observations to continue the observations of the auroras after Juno flew too far away from Jupiter to obtain resolved images, effectively extending the time interval of continuous observations and giving access to long-timescale phenomena, such as the complete unfolding of dawn storms. Finally, we will briefly discuss previously impossible simultaneous observations of both poles. In conclusion, Earth-based observations of the UV auroras are a crucial tool to maximize the outcome of spacecraft mission, offering context, continuity and complementary views of the complex phenomena taking place in planetary magnetospheres

Alfvén Wave Propagation in the Io Plasma Torus

peer reviewedaudience: researcher, professionalAbstract Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system, fuels a plasma torus around Jupiter with dissociation products of SO2 at a rate of ~1,000 kg/s. We use a combination of in situ Voyager 1 data and Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph observations to constrain a diffusive equilibrium model of the Io plasma torus. The interaction of the Io plasma torus with Io launches Alfvén waves in both directions along magnetic field lines. We use the recent Juno-based JRM09 magnetic field model combined with our 3-D model of the Io plasma torus to simulate the propagation of Alfvén waves from the moon to the ionosphere of Jupiter. We map the location of multiple reflections of iogenic Alfvén waves between the northern and southern hemispheres. The location of the first few bounces of the Alfvén wave pattern match the Io auroral footprints observed by the Hubble Space Telescope

Expansion of the main auroral oval at Jupiter : evidence for Io’s control over the Jovian magnetosphere

In spring 2007, New Horizons' Jupiter fly-by provided a unique opportunity for the largest observation campaign dedicated to the Jovian aurora ever carried out by the Hubble Space Telescope. UV images of the aurora have been acquired on a quasi-daily basis from mid-February to mid-June 2007. Polar projection of the auroral emissions clearly show a continuous long-term expansion of main oval additionally to day by day variations. The main oval moved so much that the Ganymede footprint, which is usually located equatorward of the main emissions, has even been observed inside of it. Simultaneously, the occurrence rate of large equatorward isolated auroral features increased over the season. These emission patches are generally attributed to injections of depleted flux tubes. On 6th June, one of these features exceptionally moved down to the Io footpath. The Io footprint seemed to disappear while the footprint moved through this patch of emission. This disappearance is a unique case among all the UV images of the aurora acquired during the last 12 years. We suggest that all these changes seen in the Jovian aurora are evidence for a major reconfiguration of the magnetosphere induced by increased volcanic activity on Io. Indeed, New Horizons observed particularly intense activity from the Tvashtar volcano in late February 2007. Moreover, sodium cloud brightening caused by volcanic outbursts have also been seen in late May 2007. According to our interpretation, repeated volcanic outbursts beefed up the plasma torus density and its mass outflow rate. This caused the corotation breakdown boundary to migrate closer to Jupiter. Consequently, the main auroral oval moved equatorward. As heavy flux tubes move outward, sparsely filled ones should be injected into the inner magnetosphere in order to conserve the magnetic flux in this region. This phenomenon could explain the large number of injection signatures observed in May-June 2007. Such a cloud of depleted flux tubes probably disrupted the Io-magnetosphere interaction, leading to an abnormally faint Io footprint

Auroral evidence of Io's control over the magnetosphere of Jupiter

Contrary to the case of the Earth, the main auroral oval on Jupiter is related to the breakdown of plasma corotation in the middle magnetosphere. Even if the root causes for the main auroral emissions are Io's volcanism and Jupiter's fast rotation, changes in the aurora could be attributed either to these internal factors or to fluctuations of the solar wind. Here we show multiple lines of evidence from the aurora for a major internally-controlled magnetospheric reconfiguration that took place in Spring 2007. Hubble Space Telescope far-UV images show that the main oval continuously expanded over a few months, engulfing the Ganymede footprint on its way. Simultaneously, there was an increased occurrence rate of large equatorward isolated auroral features attributed to injection of depleted flux tubes. Furthermore, the unique disappearance of the Io footprint on 6 June appears to be related to the exceptional equatorward migration of such a feature. The contemporary observation of the spectacular Tvashtar volcanic plume by the New-Horizons probe as well as direct measurement of increased Io plasma torus emissions suggest that these dramatic changes were triggered by Io's volcanic activity

Jupiter's changing auroral location

[1] We examine the case of significant latitudinal shifts of the Jovian northern auroral emissions appearing in a data set spanning nine years of observations with the Hubble Space Telescope in the far ultraviolet. The extended data set makes it possible to compare the location of the main auroral emission with similar viewing geometries and satellite positions. The main auroral emission is assumed to originate from beyond the orbit of Ganymede (15 Jovian radii). At these distances, near corotation enforcement and transfer of momentum from Jupiter to the magnetospheric plasma is ensured by means of field aligned currents. The field aligned currents away from Jupiter are carried by downward energetic electrons loosing their energy to the polar atmosphere and giving rise to the main auroral emission. Analysis of the polar projected images shows that the latitudinal location of the main emission has changed by up to 3 degrees over long periods of time. It also shows that the footprint of Ganymede follows a similar trend. We have used the VIP4 magnetic field model to map the emission down to the equatorial plane. This mapping suggests that internal variations of the current sheet parameters might be used as an alternative or complementary explanation to the changing solar wind conditions at Jupiter to explain the observed shift of auroral latitudes

The crucial role of HST during the NASA Juno mission: a "Juno initiative"

In 2016, the NASA Juno spacecraft will initiate its one-year mission around Jupiter and become the first probe to explore the polar regions of Jupiter. The HST UV instruments (STIS and ACS) can greatly contribute to the success of the Juno mission by providing key complementary views of Jupiter's UV aurora from Earth orbit. Juno carries an ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) and an infrared spectral mapper (JIRAM) that will obtain high-resolution spectral images providing the auroral counterpart to Juno's in situ particles and fields measurements with the plasma JADE and JEDI particle detectors. The Juno mission will be the first opportunity to measure simultaneously the energetic particles at high latitude and the auroral emissions they produce. Following programmatic and technical limitations, the amount of UVS data transmitted to Earth will be severely restricted. Therefore, it is of extreme importance that HST captures as much additional information as possible on Jupiter's UV aurora during the one-year life of the Juno mission. This white paper is a plea for a "Juno initiative" that will ensure that a sufficient number of orbits is allocated to this unique solar system mission.Comment: Paper submitted to the Space Telescope Science Institute in response to the call for HST White Papers for Hubble's 2020 Visio