Signatures of magnetospheric injections in Saturn's aurora

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2013)

The production of Titan's ultraviolet nitrogen airglow

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2011), 116

The Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) observed Titan's dayside limb in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and far ultraviolet (FUV) on 22 June 2009 from a mean distance of 23 Titan radii. These ... [more ▼]

The Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) observed Titan's dayside limb in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and far ultraviolet (FUV) on 22 June 2009 from a mean distance of 23 Titan radii. These high-quality observations reveal the same EUV and FUV emissions arising from photoelectron excitation and photofragmentation of molecular nitrogen (N[SUB]2[/SUB]) as found on Earth. We investigate both of these solar driven processes with a terrestrial airglow model adapted to Titan and find that total predicted radiances for the two brightest N[SUB]2[/SUB] band systems agree with the observed peak radiances to within 5%. Using N[SUB]2[/SUB] densities constrained from in situ observations by the Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer on Cassini, the altitude of the observed limb peak of the EUV and FUV emission bands is between 840 and 1060 km and generally consistent with model predictions. We find no evidence for carbon emissions in Titan's FUV airglow in contrast to previous Titan airglow studies using UVIS data. In their place, we identify several vibrational bands from the N[SUB]2[/SUB] Vegard-Kaplan system arising from photoelectron impact with predicted peak radiances in agreement with observations. These Titan UV airglow observations are therefore comprised of emissions arising only from solar processes on N[SUB]2[/SUB] with no detectable magnetospheric contribution. Weaker EUV Carroll-Yoshino N[SUB]2[/SUB] bands within the v′ = 3, 4, and 6 progressions between 870 and 1020 Å are underpredicted by about a factor of five while the (0,1) band near 980 Å is overpredicted by about a factor of three. [less ▲]

A superposed epoch investigation of the relation between magnetospheric solar wind driving and substorm dynamics with geosynchronous particle injection signatures

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2011), 116

We report a superposed epoch analysis of the hemispheric open magnetic flux, maximum nightside auroral intensity, geomagnetic activity, and solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions around ... [more ▼]

We report a superposed epoch analysis of the hemispheric open magnetic flux, maximum nightside auroral intensity, geomagnetic activity, and solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions around the time of substorm onset for three distinct categories of substorms defined by their energetic particle injection signatures. Substorms identified from global auroral imagery are classified into one of three categories based on their energetic particle injection signatures as seen at geosynchronous orbit by the Los Alamos National Laboratory spacecraft. Category 1 events are associated with a “classic” substorm injection, category 2 events show varied activity (i.e., energetic enhancements not following the evolution expected for classic substorms), and category 3 events show no apparent injection activity. The superposed epoch analysis reveals that the three distinct particle injection categories exhibit distinct differences in the level and continuity of magnetospheric driving by the solar wind, such that category 1 events can be described as classic substorm events, category 2 as continuously driven events, and category 3 as weak events. The results of this study suggest that the level and continuity of the dayside solar wind driving of the magnetosphere during substorms have a direct impact on the injection of energetic particles to geosynchronous orbit at substorm onset. These results could have considerable value in empirical predictions of the space weather environment. [less ▲]

Nightside reconnection at Jupiter: Auroral and magnetic field observations from 26 July 1998

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2011), 116

In this study we present ultraviolet and infrared auroral data from 26 July 1998, and we show the presence of transient auroral polar spots observed throughout the postdusk to predawn local time sector ... [more ▼]

In this study we present ultraviolet and infrared auroral data from 26 July 1998, and we show the presence of transient auroral polar spots observed throughout the postdusk to predawn local time sector. The polar dawn spots, which are transient polar features observed in the dawn sector poleward of the main emission, were previously associated with the inward moving flow resulting from tail reconnection. In the present study we suggest that nightside spots, which are polar features observed close to the midnight sector, are related to inward moving flow, like the polar dawn spots. We base our conclusions on the near-simultaneous set of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Galileo observations of 26 July 1998, during which HST observed a nightside spot magnetically mapped close to the location of an inward moving flow detected by Galileo on the same day. We derive the emitted power from magnetic field measurements along the observed plasma flow bubble, and we show that it matches the emitted power inferred from HST. Additionally, this study reports for the first time a bright polar spot in the infrared, which could be a possible signature of tail reconnection. The spot appears within an interval of 30 min from the ultraviolet, poleward of the main emission on the ionosphere and in the postdusk sector planetward of the tail reconnection x line on the equatorial plane. Finally, the present work demonstrates that ionospheric signatures of flow bursts released during tail reconnection are instantaneously detected over a wide local time sector. [less ▲]

Model of the Jovian magnetic field topology constrained by the Io auroral emissions

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2011), 116

The determination of the internal magnetic field of Jupiter has been the object of many studies and publications. These models have been computed from the Pioneer, Voyager, and Ulysses measurements. Some ... [more ▼]

The determination of the internal magnetic field of Jupiter has been the object of many studies and publications. These models have been computed from the Pioneer, Voyager, and Ulysses measurements. Some models also use the position of the Io footprints as a constraint: the magnetic field lines mapping to the footprints must have their origins along Io's orbit. The use of this latter constraint to determine the internal magnetic field models greatly improved the modeling of the auroral emissions, in particular the radio ones, which strongly depends on the magnetic field geometry. This constraint is, however, not sufficient for allowing a completely accurate modeling. The fact that the footprint field line should map to a longitude close to Io's was not used, so that the azimuthal component of the magnetic field could not be precisely constrained. Moreover, a recent study showed the presence of a magnetic anomaly in the northern hemisphere, which has never been included in any spherical harmonic decomposition of the internal magnetic field. We compute a decomposition of the Jovian internal magnetic field into spherical harmonics, which allows for a more accurate mapping of the magnetic field lines crossing Io, Europa, and Ganymede orbits to the satellite footprints observed in UV. This model, named VIPAL, is mostly constrained by the Io footprint positions, including the longitudinal constraint, and normalized by the Voyager and Pioneer magnetic field measurements. We show that the surface magnetic fields predicted by our model are more consistent with the observed frequencies of the Jovian radio emissions than those predicted by previous models. [less ▲]

Power transmission and particle acceleration along the Io flux tube

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2010), 115

Io's motion relative to the Jovian magnetic field generates a power of about 10^12 W, which is thought to propagate as an Alfven wave along the magnetic field line. This power is transmitted to the ... [more ▼]

Io's motion relative to the Jovian magnetic field generates a power of about 10^12 W, which is thought to propagate as an Alfven wave along the magnetic field line. This power is transmitted to the electrons, which will then precipitate and generate the observed auroral phenomena from UV to radio wavelengths. A more detailed look at this hypothesis shows some difficulties: Can the Alfven waves escape the torus or are they trapped inside? Where and how are the particles accelerated? In which direction? Is there enough power transmitted to the particles to explain the strong brightness of the auroral emissions in UV, IR, visible, and radio? In other words, can we make a global, consistent model of the Io-Jupiter interaction that matches all the observations? To answer these questions, we review the models and studies that have been proposed so far. We show that the Alfven waves need to be filamented by a turbulent cascade process and accelerate the electrons at high latitude in order to explain the observations and to form a consistent scheme of the Io-Jupiter interaction. [less ▲]

Auroral signatures of flow bursts released during magnetotail reconnection at Jupiter

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2010), 115

Recent studies based on Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data reported the presence of transient polar dawn spots in the Jovian auroral region and interpreted them as signatures of internally driven magnetic ... [more ▼]

Recent studies based on Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data reported the presence of transient polar dawn spots in the Jovian auroral region and interpreted them as signatures of internally driven magnetic reconnection in the Jovian magnetotail. Even though an association of the polar dawn spots with the reconnection process has been suggested, it has not been yet investigated which part of the process and what mechanism powers these auroral emissions. In the present study, we examine the scenario that the auroral spots are triggered by the inward moving flow bursts released during magnetic reconnection at Jupiter. We base our analysis on a model adapted from the terrestrial case, according to which moving plasma flow burst is coupled with the ionosphere by field-aligned currents, giving rise to auroral emissions. We estimate the upward field-aligned current at the flank of the flow bursts, using in-situ magnetic field measurements and we derive the auroral emitted power. We statistically study the observed emitted power of the polar dawn spots, based on HST data from 1998 to 2007, and we compare it with the emitted power derived according to the proposed scenario. Apart from the emitted power, other properties of the polar dawn spots such as their location, periodicity, duty cycle and multiplicity suggest that they are associated with the inward moving flow bursts released during magnetic reconnection in Jupiter's tail. [less ▲]

The Io UV footprint: Location, inter-spot distances and tail vertical extent

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2009), 114

The Io footprint (IFP) consists of one or several spots observed in both jovian hemispheres and is related to the electromagnetic interaction between Io and the magnetosphere. These spots are followed by ... [more ▼]

The Io footprint (IFP) consists of one or several spots observed in both jovian hemispheres and is related to the electromagnetic interaction between Io and the magnetosphere. These spots are followed by an auroral curtain, called the tail, extending more than 90° longitude in the direction of planetary rotation. We use recent Hubble Space Telescope images of Jupiter to analyze the location of the footprint spots and tail as a function of Io's location in the jovian magnetic field. We present here a new IFP reference contour---the locus of all possible IFP positions---with an unprecedented accuracy, especially in previously poorly covered sectors. We also demonstrate that the lead angle - the longitudinal shift between Io and the actual IFP position - is not a reliable quantity for validation of the interaction models. Instead, the evolution of the inter-spot distances appears to be a better diagnosis of the Io-Jupiter interaction. Moreover, we present observations of the tail vertical profiles as seen above the limb. The emission peak altitude is ~900 km and remains relatively constant with the distance from the main spot. The altitudinal extent of the vertical emission profiles is not compatible with precipitation of a mono-energetic electron population. The best fit is obtained for a kappa distribution with a characteristic energy of ~70 eV and a spectral index of 2.3. The broadness of the inferred electron energy spectrum gives insight into the physics of the electron acceleration mechanism at play above the IFP tail. [less ▲]

Response of Jupiter's and Saturn's auroral activity to the solar wind

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2009), 114

While the terrestrial aurorae are known to be driven primarily by the interaction of the Earth's magnetosphere with the solar wind, there is considerable evidence that auroral emissions on Jupiter and ... [more ▼]

While the terrestrial aurorae are known to be driven primarily by the interaction of the Earth's magnetosphere with the solar wind, there is considerable evidence that auroral emissions on Jupiter and Saturn are driven primarily by internal processes, with the main energy source being the planets' rapid rotation. Prior observations have suggested there might be some influence of the solar wind on Jupiter's aurorae and indicated that auroral storms on Saturn can occur at times of solar wind pressure increases. To investigate in detail the dependence of auroral processes on solar wind conditions, a large campaign of observations of these planets has been undertaken using the Hubble Space Telescope, in association with measurements from planetary spacecraft and solar wind conditions both propagated from 1 AU and measured near each planet. The data indicate a brightening of both the auroral emissions and Saturn kilometric radiation at Saturn close in time to the arrival of solar wind shocks and pressure increases, consistent with a direct physical relationship between Saturnian auroral processes and solar wind conditions. At Jupiter the correlation is less strong, with increases in total auroral power seen near the arrival of solar wind forward shocks but little increase observed near reverse shocks. In addition, auroral dawn storms have been observed when there was little change in solar wind conditions. The data are consistent with some solar wind influence on some Jovian auroral processes, while the auroral activity also varies independently of the solar wind. This extensive data set will serve to constrain theoretical models for the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. [less ▲]

Response of the expanding/contracting polar cap to weak and strong solar wind driving: Implications for substorm onset

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2008), 113

We quantify the amount of open magnetic flux in the magnetosphere from observations of the auroral polar cap on a near-continuous basis for a period of 18 days, 20 August to 6 September 2005. This ... [more ▼]

We quantify the amount of open magnetic flux in the magnetosphere from observations of the auroral polar cap on a near-continuous basis for a period of 18 days, 20 August to 6 September 2005. This interval encompasses periods of weak, moderate, and strong solar wind driving, including two geomagnetic storms. We identify 49 substorms during the interval and determine the response of the polar cap to growth and expansion phases of the substorms. We find that the frequency of substorms and the flux closed by substorms both increase during enhanced solar wind driving, each approximately as the square root of the dayside reconnection rate. In addition, the average size of the polar cap increases during intervals when there is strong driving and especially when the SYM-H index indicates that the ring current is enhanced. We suggest that this occurs for two reasons: because there is a delay between substorm onset and the closure of open magnetic flux in the magnetotail (while closed flux is pinched off), during which dayside reconnection can lead to further growth in the size of the polar cap, and also because the magnetotail is more stable to reconnection when the ring current is enhanced. [less ▲]