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Identifying the Variety of Jovian X-Ray Auroral Structures: Tying the Morphology of X-Ray Emissions to Associated Magnetospheric Dynamics

Weigt, DM; Jackman, CM; Moral Pombo, D; Badman, SV; Louis, CK; Dunn, WR; McEntee, SC; ... Connerney, JEP; + view all (2023) Identifying the Variety of Jovian X-Ray Auroral Structures: Tying the Morphology of X-Ray Emissions to Associated Magnetospheric Dynamics. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics , 128 (11) 10.1029/2023JA031656. Green open access

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Abstract

We define the spatial clustering of X-rays within Jupiter's northern auroral regions by classifying their distributions into “X-ray auroral structures.” Using data from Chandra during Juno's main mission observations (24 May 2016 to 8 September 2019), we define five X-ray structures based on their ionospheric location and calculate the distribution of auroral photons. The morphology and ionospheric location of these structures allow us to explore the possibility of numerous X-ray auroral magnetospheric drivers. We compare these distributions to Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Juno (Waves and MAG) data, and a 1D solar wind propagation model to infer the state of Jupiter's magnetosphere. Our results suggest that the five sub-classes of “X-ray structures” fall under two broad morphologies: fully polar and low latitude emissions. Visibility modeling of each structure suggests the non-uniformity of the photon distributions across the Chandra intervals are likely associated with the switching on/off of magnetospheric drivers as opposed to geometrical effects. The combination of ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray morphological structures is a powerful tool to elucidate the behavior of both electrons and ions and their link to solar wind/magnetospheric conditions in the absence of an upstream solar monitor. Although much work is still needed to progress the use of X-ray morphology as a diagnostic tool, we set the foundations for future studies to continue this vital research.

Type: Article
Title: Identifying the Variety of Jovian X-Ray Auroral Structures: Tying the Morphology of X-Ray Emissions to Associated Magnetospheric Dynamics
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1029/2023JA031656
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023JA031656
Language: English
Additional information: ©2023. The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords: Jupiter, X-ray aurora, magnetosphere, ultraviolet aurora, magnetospheric dynamics
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Physics and Astronomy
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Space and Climate Physics
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10181363
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