Physics Department Seminar University of Alaska Fairbanks


J O U R N A L    C L U B

 
Io Footprint Aurora on Jupiter
 
by
 
Dan Swift
Emeritus, Physics Dept/GI UAF
 
 
ABSTRACT

The innermost of the Gallilean satellites, Io continually spews sulfur into the Jovian magnetosphere. This sulfur becomes quickly ionized and is picked up by Jupiter's rotating magnetic field. The resulting polarization of the plasma cloud sends currents carried by Alfven waves to the Jovian ionosphere. Filamentary Alfven waves accelerate electrons to keV energies causing the aurora. This talk will present a brief review of Jovian auroral observations and then present results of numerical simulations of auroral acceleration in the Jovian magnetosphere. It turns out that much of the acceleration is upward producing s separate auroral spot in the conjugate hemisphere.

 
Friday, 6 March 2009
Globe Room, Elvey Building
3:45 PM