Modeling of the Jovian Magnetosphere

• Main Authors: I. I. Alexeev, E. S. Belenkaya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2005-03-01
• Series: Annales Geophysicae
• Online Access: https://www.ann-geophys.net/23/809/2005/angeo-23-809-2005.pdf

This paper presents a global model of the Jovian magnetosphere which is valid not only in the equatorial plane and near the planet, as most of the existing models are, but also at high latitudes and in the outer regions of the magnetosphere. The model includes the Jovian dipole, magnetodisc, and tail current system. The tail currents are combined with the magnetopause closure currents. All inner magnetospheric magnetic field sources are screened by the magnetopause currents. It guarantees a zero normal magnetic field component for the inner magnetospheric field at the whole magnetopause surface. By changing magnetospheric scale (subsolar distance), the model gives a possibility to study the solar wind influence on the magnetospheric structure and auroral activity. A dependence of the magnetospheric size on the solar wind dynamic pressure <i>p_sw</i> (proportional to <i>p_sw</i>^-0.23) is obtained. It is a stronger dependence than in the case of the Earth's magnetosphere (<i>p_sw</i>^-1/6). The model of Jupiter's magnetospheric which is presented is a unique one, as it allows one to study the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) effects.