AstronomyScientists find evidence for magnetic reconnection between Ganymede and...

Scientists find evidence for magnetic reconnection between Ganymede and Jupiter

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Interpretation of magnetic topology and electron stream path for 2 completely different reconnection eventualities at Ganymede’s upstream magnetopause. The Y–Z projection of the magnetic discipline line configuration is customized from Jia et al. (2008). Yellow dashed line signifies Juno’s trajectory. Credit score: Geophysical Analysis Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1029/2022GL099775

In June 2021, NASA’s Juno spacecraft flew near Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon, observing proof of magnetic reconnection. A group led by Southwest Analysis Institute used Juno information to look at the electron and ion particles and magnetic fields because the magnetic discipline strains of Jupiter and Ganymede merged, snapped and reoriented, heating and accelerating the charged particles within the area.


“Ganymede is the one moon in our solar system with its personal magnetic field,” mentioned Juno Principal Investigator Dr. Scott Bolton of SwRI. “The snapping and reconnecting of Ganymede’s magnetic discipline strains with Jupiter’s creates the magnetospheric fireworks.”

Magnetic reconnection is an explosive bodily course of that converts saved magnetic power into kinetic power and warmth. Ganymede’s mini-magnetosphere interacts with Jupiter’s huge magnetosphere, within the magnetopause, the boundary between the 2 areas.

“We interpreted the presence of accelerated electrons touring alongside the magnetic discipline at Ganymede’s magnetopause as proof that magnetic reconnection was occurring there throughout the Juno flyby,” mentioned Dr. Robert Ebert, lead creator of a Geophysical Analysis Letters paper describing the findings. “These observations additional help the notion that magnetic reconnection at Ganymede’s magnetopause could be a driver of dynamic processes within the native space atmosphere round this moon of Jupiter.”

The SwRI-developed Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) aboard Juno noticed enhanced electron fluxes, together with accelerated, magnetic field-aligned electrons. Reconnection as noticed by Juno is regarded as associated to the technology of Ganymede’s aurora.

Scientists find evidence for magnetic reconnection between Ganymede and Jupiter
Juno’s trajectory on method to and thru Ganymede’s magnetosphere within the GphiO coordinate system. Summed differential power fluxes (DEF) for 0.032–32 keV/q electrons are overplotted on Juno’s trajectory. DEF is the variety of counts per unit space, time, and strong angle. Black arrows point out path of incident plasma stream, path to Jupiter, and placement of the outbound magnetopause crossing. Inbound magnetopause crossing proven in grey will not be analyzed right here. Credit score: Geophysical Analysis Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1029/2022GL099775

“The accelerated electrons noticed by JADE are just like these noticed by NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale (MSS) spacecraft throughout reconnection on the Earth’s magnetopause,” mentioned Dr. Stephen Fuselier, a co-author of the paper. “That is one of many thrilling outcomes from the Ganymede flyby: Regardless of the huge variations between Ganymede and Earth, we discover commonality within the common strategy of magnetic reconnection.”

Through the Juno flyby, the SwRI-led Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) noticed Ganymede’s auroral emissions, that are anticipated to be produced by electrons accelerated through magnetic reconnection.

SwRI has constructed two further UVS devices to function in Jupiter orbit aboard ESA’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft and NASA’s Europa Clipper. The European Area Company’s JUICE mission is scheduled to launch in April 2023 and arrive at Jupiter in 2031. NASA’s Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch in October 2024 and arrive at Jupiter in 2030.

“Nothing is straightforward—or small—when you’ve gotten the most important planet within the solar system as your neighbor,” mentioned Thomas Greathouse, a Juno scientist from SwRI. “This was the primary measurement of this sophisticated interplay at Ganymede. This provides us a really early tantalizing style of the knowledge we count on to study from ESA’s JUICE mission.”

Extra info:
R. W. Ebert et al, Proof for Magnetic Reconnection at Ganymede’s Upstream Magnetopause Through the PJ34 Juno Flyby, Geophysical Analysis Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1029/2022GL099775

Quotation:
Scientists discover proof for magnetic reconnection between Ganymede and Jupiter (2023, January 10)
retrieved 10 January 2023
from https://phys.org/information/2023-01-scientists-evidence-magnetic-reconnection-ganymede.html

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