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Observations of MeV electrons in Jupiter's innermost radiation belts and polar regions by the Juno radiation monitoring investigation: Perijoves 1 and 3
Author(s) -
Becker Heidi N.,
SantosCosta Daniel,
Jørgensen John L.,
Denver Troelz,
Adriani Alberto,
Mura Alessandro,
Connerney John E. P.,
Bolton Scott J.,
Levin Steven M.,
Thorne Richard M.,
Alexander James W.,
Adumitroaie Virgil,
ManorChapman Emily A.,
Daubar Ingrid J.,
Lee Clifford,
Benn Mathias,
Sushkova Julia,
Cicchetti Andrea,
Noschese Raffaella
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 - 10.1002/2017gl073091
Subject(s) - physics , jovian , van allen radiation belt , jupiter (rocket family) , magnetosphere , radiation , polar , astronomy , particle radiation , infrared , astrophysics , charged particle , planet , optics , saturn , space exploration , ion , plasma , quantum mechanics
Juno's “Perijove 1” (27 August 2016) and “Perijove 3” (11 December 2016) flybys through the innermost region of Jupiter's magnetosphere (radial distances <2 Jovian radii, 1.06 R J at closest approach) provided the first in situ look at this region's radiation environment. Juno's Radiation Monitoring Investigation collected particle counts and noise signatures from penetrating high‐energy particle impacts in images acquired by the Stellar Reference Unit and Advanced Stellar Compass star trackers, and the Jupiter Infrared Auroral Mapper infrared imager. This coordinated observation campaign sampled radiation at the inner edges of the high‐latitude lobes of the synchrotron emission region and more distant environments. Inferred omnidirectional >5 MeV and >10 MeV electron fluxes derived from these measurements provide valuable constraints for models of relativistic electron environments in the inner radiation belts. Several intense bursts of high‐energy particle counts were also observed by the Advanced Stellar Compass in polar regions outside the radiation belts.