OBSERVABLE IMPLICATIONS OF TEARING-MODE INSTABILITY IN JUPITER NIGHTSIDE MAGNETOSPHERE

Authors
Citation
G. Zimbardo, OBSERVABLE IMPLICATIONS OF TEARING-MODE INSTABILITY IN JUPITER NIGHTSIDE MAGNETOSPHERE, Planetary and space science, 41(5), 1993, pp. 357-361
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Geosciences, Interdisciplinary
Journal title
ISSN journal
00320633
Volume
41
Issue
5
Year of publication
1993
Pages
357 - 361
Database
ISI
SICI code
0032-0633(1993)41:5<357:OIOTII>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
We consider the implications on observations of tearing-mode instabili ty in Jupiter's nightside magnetosphere. Theoretical developments of t he tearing instability are briefly discussed. Using a self-consistent axisymmetric magnetic field model based on the Voyager data, it is fou nd that magnetic reconnection driven by the internal magnetosphere ene rgy and plasma can occur in the nightside magnetosphere. Particles acc elerated at the neutral line, with maximum energy of the order of 10 M eV, are to be expected on the separatrix magnetic surface which crosse s the equatorial plane at a nightside distance of about 60 Jovian radi i. When mapped onto the the polar regions, this corresponds to latitud es near to 73-degrees, so that the associated auroral emission should be located well inside the Io torus footprint Abo radio emission from the streaming electrons can be expected. Recent Ulysses as well as gro und-based observations support this scenario.