Open AccessComparative study of the power transferred from satellite‐magnetosphere interactions to auroral emissions
Author(s) -
Hess S. L. G.,
Delamere P. A.,
Dols V.,
Ray L. C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2010ja015807
Subject(s) - jovian , magnetosphere , physics , jupiter (rocket family) , electron , enceladus , filamentation , saturn , geophysics , field line , electron precipitation , magnetic field , plasma , computational physics , atmospheric sciences , astronomy , planet , spacecraft , quantum mechanics
Io's interaction with the Jovian magnetosphere generates a power of about 10 12 W which propagates as Alfvén waves along the magnetic field lines and is partly transferred to electrons, resulting in intense auroral emissions. A recent study of the power transmission along the Io flux tube and of the electron acceleration at high latitudes showed that the power of the observed emissions is well explained by assuming filamentation of the Alfvén waves in the torus and the acceleration of the electrons at high latitude. At Jupiter, UV footprints related to Europa and Ganymede have also been observed. At Saturn recent observations revealed a weak UV footprint of Enceladus. We apply the Io interaction model to the Europa and Enceladus interactions. We show that the Alfvén wave filamentation leads to a precipitating electron power consistent with the power of the observed UV footprints.