A New Framework to Explain Changes in Io's Footprint Tail Electron Fluxes

J. R. Szalay, F. Allegrini, F. Bagenal, S. J. Bolton, B. Bonfond, G. Clark, J. E.P. Connerney, R. W. Ebert, V. Hue, D. J. McComas, J. Saur, A. H. Sulaiman, R. J. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

We analyze precipitating electron fluxes connected to 18 crossings of Io's footprint tail aurora, over altitudes of 0.15 to 1.1 Jovian radii (RJ). The strength of precipitating electron fluxes is dominantly organized by “Io-Alfvén tail distance,” the angle along Io's orbit between Io and an Alfvén wave trajectory connected to the tail aurora. These fluxes best fit an exponential as a function of down-tail extent with an e-folding distance of 21°. The acceleration region altitude likely increases down-tail, and the majority of parallel electron acceleration sustaining the tail aurora occurs above 1 RJ in altitude. We do not find a correlation between the tail fluxes and the power of the initial Alfvén wave launched from Io. Finally, Juno has likely transited Io's Main Alfvén Wing fluxtube, observing a characteristically distinct signature with precipitating electron fluxes ~600 mW/m2 and an acceleration region extending as low as 0.4 RJ in altitude.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2020GL089267
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume47
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 28 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A New Framework to Explain Changes in Io's Footprint Tail Electron Fluxes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this