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Jupiter's Double‐Arc Aurora as a Signature of Magnetic Reconnection: Simultaneous Observations From HST and Juno
Author(s) -
Guo R. L.,
Yao Z. H.,
Grodent D.,
Bonfond B.,
Clark G.,
Dunn W. R.,
Palmaerts B.,
Mauk B. H.,
Vogt M. F.,
Shi Q. Q.,
Wei Y.,
Connerney J. E. P.,
Bolton S. J.
Publication year - 2021
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 - 10.1029/2021gl093964
Subject(s) - jupiter (rocket family) , physics , magnetic reconnection , hubble space telescope , astrophysics , spacecraft , magnetosphere , polar , astronomy , geophysics , magnetic field , stars , quantum mechanics
Jupiter's powerful auroral emission is usually divided into the polar, main, and equatorward components. The driver of Jupiter's main aurora is a central question for the community. Previous investigations reveal many distinct substructures on the main auroral oval, which are indicators of fundamentally different magnetospheric processes. Understanding these substructures could provide key constraints for uncovering the driver of Jupiter's main aurora emission. In this study, we show the evolution of a double‐auroral arc on the dawnside from observations by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Simultaneous in situ observations from the Juno spacecraft provide direct evidence of magnetic reconnection and magnetic dipolarization. By analyzing the datasets from Juno and HST, we suggest that the evolution of the double‐arc structure is likely a consequence of the non‐steady progress of magnetic reconnection.