Magneto-Inertial Oscillations of Jupiter's Inner Radiation Belt

Abstract:

In 1992, Ulysses spacecraft discovered quasi-periodic 40 minute

(QP-40) bursts of relativistic electrons and of low-frequency radio emissions from the south polar direction of Jupiter. These radio bursts are right-hand circularly polarized and strongly correlate with the arrival of fast-speed solar winds at Jupiter. We proposed (Lou 2001) that these relativistic electron bursts originate from the circumpolar leakage of the inner radiation belt (IRB) where intense synchrotron emissions reveal the presence of trapped relativistic electrons therein. The QP-40 variabilities are associated with QP-40 magneto-inertial global IRB oscillations which are excited and sustained by intermittent high-speed solar winds. We present 6cm observations of Jupiter's IRB flux variations using the Urumqi 25m radio telescope. In reference to extensive observations of different diagnostics, we discuss various aspects of our model scenario and predictions more specifically. The recent joint space (X-ray, EUV) and ground (radio and optical) observational campaigns to monitor global activities of Jupiter are also mentioned.

References:

(1) Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 421, L62–L66 (2012)

Bursty synchrotron intensity variations of Jovian 6-cm radio

emissions and Jupiter's quasi-periodic polar activities

Yu-Qing Lou, Huagang Song, Yinyu Liu and Meng Yang

(2) Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 344, L1–L5 (2003)

On the importance of searching for oscillations of the Jovian

inner radiation belt with a quasi-period of 40 minutes

Yu-Qing Lou and Chen Zheng

(3) THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 548: 460-465, 2001 February 10,

2001. MAGNETOINERTIAL OSCILLATIONS OF JUPITERÏS INNER RADIATION

BELT, YU-QING LOU