Electron Beams at Europa

F. Allegrini; J. Saur; J. R. Szalay; R. W. Ebert; W. S. Kurth; S. Cervantes; H. T. Smith; F. Bagenal; S. J. Bolton; G. Clark; J. E.P. Connerney; P. Louarn; B. Mauk; David J. McComas; A. Pontoni; Y. Sarkango; P. Valek; R. J. Wilson

doi:10.1029/2024GL108422

Electron Beams at Europa

F. Allegrini, J. Saur, J. R. Szalay, R. W. Ebert, W. S. Kurth, S. Cervantes, H. T. Smith, F. Bagenal, S. J. Bolton, G. Clark, J. E.P. Connerney, P. Louarn, B. Mauk, David J. McComas, A. Pontoni, Y. Sarkango, P. Valek, R. J. Wilson

Astrophysical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Jupiter's moon Europa contains a subsurface ocean whose presence is inferred from magnetic field measurements, the interpretation of which depends on knowledge of Europa's local plasma environment. A recent Juno spacecraft flyby returned new observations of plasma electrons with unprecedented resolution. Specifically, powerful magnetic field-aligned electron beams were discovered near Europa. These beams, with energies from ∼30 to ∼300 eV, locally enhance electron-impact-excited emissions and ionization in Europa's atmosphere by more than a factor three over the local space environment, and are associated with large jumps of the magnetic fields. The beams therefore play an essential role in shaping Europa's plasma and magnetic field environment and thus need to be accounted for electromagnetic sounding of Europa's ocean and plume detection by future missions such as JUICE and Europa Clipper.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e2024GL108422
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	51
Issue number	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108422
State	Published - Jul 16 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Keywords

electron
Europa
flyby
Juno
Jupiter's magnetosphere
plasma

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10.1029/2024GL108422

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Allegrini, F., Saur, J., Szalay, J. R., Ebert, R. W., Kurth, W. S., Cervantes, S., Smith, H. T., Bagenal, F., Bolton, S. J., Clark, G., Connerney, J. E. P., Louarn, P., Mauk, B., McComas, D. J., Pontoni, A., Sarkango, Y., Valek, P., & Wilson, R. J. (2024). Electron Beams at Europa. Geophysical Research Letters, 51(13), Article e2024GL108422. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108422

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title = "Electron Beams at Europa",

abstract = "Jupiter's moon Europa contains a subsurface ocean whose presence is inferred from magnetic field measurements, the interpretation of which depends on knowledge of Europa's local plasma environment. A recent Juno spacecraft flyby returned new observations of plasma electrons with unprecedented resolution. Specifically, powerful magnetic field-aligned electron beams were discovered near Europa. These beams, with energies from ∼30 to ∼300 eV, locally enhance electron-impact-excited emissions and ionization in Europa's atmosphere by more than a factor three over the local space environment, and are associated with large jumps of the magnetic fields. The beams therefore play an essential role in shaping Europa's plasma and magnetic field environment and thus need to be accounted for electromagnetic sounding of Europa's ocean and plume detection by future missions such as JUICE and Europa Clipper.",

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author = "F. Allegrini and J. Saur and Szalay, {J. R.} and Ebert, {R. W.} and Kurth, {W. S.} and S. Cervantes and Smith, {H. T.} and F. Bagenal and Bolton, {S. J.} and G. Clark and Connerney, {J. E.P.} and P. Louarn and B. Mauk and McComas, {David J.} and A. Pontoni and Y. Sarkango and P. Valek and Wilson, {R. J.}",

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T1 - Electron Beams at Europa

AU - Allegrini, F.

AU - Saur, J.

AU - Szalay, J. R.

AU - Ebert, R. W.

AU - Kurth, W. S.

AU - Cervantes, S.

AU - Smith, H. T.

AU - Bagenal, F.

AU - Bolton, S. J.

AU - Clark, G.

AU - Connerney, J. E.P.

AU - Louarn, P.

AU - Mauk, B.

AU - McComas, David J.

AU - Pontoni, A.

AU - Sarkango, Y.

AU - Valek, P.

AU - Wilson, R. J.

PY - 2024/7/16

Y1 - 2024/7/16

N2 - Jupiter's moon Europa contains a subsurface ocean whose presence is inferred from magnetic field measurements, the interpretation of which depends on knowledge of Europa's local plasma environment. A recent Juno spacecraft flyby returned new observations of plasma electrons with unprecedented resolution. Specifically, powerful magnetic field-aligned electron beams were discovered near Europa. These beams, with energies from ∼30 to ∼300 eV, locally enhance electron-impact-excited emissions and ionization in Europa's atmosphere by more than a factor three over the local space environment, and are associated with large jumps of the magnetic fields. The beams therefore play an essential role in shaping Europa's plasma and magnetic field environment and thus need to be accounted for electromagnetic sounding of Europa's ocean and plume detection by future missions such as JUICE and Europa Clipper.

AB - Jupiter's moon Europa contains a subsurface ocean whose presence is inferred from magnetic field measurements, the interpretation of which depends on knowledge of Europa's local plasma environment. A recent Juno spacecraft flyby returned new observations of plasma electrons with unprecedented resolution. Specifically, powerful magnetic field-aligned electron beams were discovered near Europa. These beams, with energies from ∼30 to ∼300 eV, locally enhance electron-impact-excited emissions and ionization in Europa's atmosphere by more than a factor three over the local space environment, and are associated with large jumps of the magnetic fields. The beams therefore play an essential role in shaping Europa's plasma and magnetic field environment and thus need to be accounted for electromagnetic sounding of Europa's ocean and plume detection by future missions such as JUICE and Europa Clipper.

KW - electron

KW - Europa

KW - flyby

KW - Juno

KW - Jupiter's magnetosphere

KW - plasma

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JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

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Electron Beams at Europa

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