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Electron butterfly distributions at particular magnetic latitudes observed during Juno's perijove pass
Author(s) -
Ma Q.,
Thorne R. M.,
Li W.,
Zhang X.J.,
Mauk B. H.,
Paranicas C.,
Haggerty D. K.,
Kurth W. S.,
Connerney J. E. P.,
Bagenal F.,
Bolton S. J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl072983
Subject(s) - pitch angle , electron , physics , van allen radiation belt , jupiter (rocket family) , butterfly , population , range (aeronautics) , atomic physics , magnetic field , magnetosphere , geophysics , astronomy , nuclear physics , materials science , demography , space shuttle , finance , quantum mechanics , sociology , economics , composite material
We report observations of energetic electron butterfly distributions measured in a narrow range of Jupiter's magnetic latitudes by Juno during perijove 1. The electron butterfly distributions are characterized as clear electron flux peaks at 30–80° pitch angles, compared with the 90°‐peaked pitch angle distributions of the trapped electrons. Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instrument measurements during the close approach to Jupiter indicate a specific electron population with butterfly distributions formed between the main auroral oval and the radiation belt. The off‐90° flux peak is most clearly observed at tens of keV energies and gradually merges toward 90° pitch angle at higher energies. By projecting the observed electron pitch angle distributions along the magnetic field line, we found that the electron butterfly distributions are observed close to their source region. The particular electron distribution is possibly formed by parallel acceleration of electrons through Landau resonance with electrostatic waves.