Field-aligned currents in the Jovian Magnetosphere: Pioneer 10 and 11

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA081i034p05853· OSTI ID:7130628

Kivelson, M G; Winge, C R

Field-aligned currents, which are known to play an important role in the dynamics of the Earth's magnetosphere, would also be expected to flow in the Jovian magnetosphere during magnetically active periods. Such currents are difficult to observe, largely because of their limited spatial extent and intermittent nature; but on the Pioneer 11 inbound pass to Jupiter on day 336, 1800 GRT, near the L shell of Ganymede, the helium vector magnetometer recorded a structured perturbation with the characteristic signature of a field-aligned current. No analogous structure was found on a similar Pioneer 10 inbound pass (day 337, 1200 GRT). The perturbation could have been caused by turbulence within the wake of Ganymede through which the spacecraft was moving, or the perturbation could represent the first observation of a Jovian substorm. The observations are discussed in terms of both models, and difficulties are examined. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024
• OSTI ID: 7130628
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 81:34; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
IONOSPHERE
JUPITER PLANET
MAGNETIC STORMS
PIONEER SPACE PROBES
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
SPACE VEHICLES