Preliminary Modeling of Magnetized Sprite Streamers on Jupiter Following Juno's Observations of Possible Transient Luminous Events

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics 2023-02, Vol.128 (2), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Janalizadeh, Reza, Pasko, Victor P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Atmospheric density; Earth; Earth atmosphere; Elves (atmospherics); gas discharge; Gas discharges; High altitude; Ionosphere; Jupiter; Jupiter atmosphere; Jupiter lightning; Jupiter probes; Lightning; Lightning discharges; Literature reviews; Magnetic fields; magnetized plasma; Mathematical models; Modelling; Numerical models; Planetary magnetic fields; Spacecraft; sprite streamers; Thunderstorms; Transient luminous events
• ISSN: 2169-9380; 2169-9402
• DOI: 10.1029/2022JA031009

The first observation of possible transient luminous events (TLEs) on Jupiter was reported recently. Whereas initiation of elves on Jupiter has been theoretically studied before, the possibility of sprite streamer inception on Jupiter has not been investigated yet. Here we critically review the literature concerned with TLEs on Jupiter. Subsequently, we report on development of a numerical model for modeling of magnetized streamers in presence of Jupiter's strong magnetic field. The model utilizes the knowledge provided by recent observations of Jupiter's lightning and magnetic field by the Juno spacecraft. It is demonstrated that sprite streamer inception under realistic atmospheric conditions on Jupiter is possible. Plain Language Summary Transient luminous events are large scale (thousands of cubic kilometers) gas discharges produced at low air densities at high altitudes in the Earth's atmosphere. These events are driven by intense lightning discharges in underlying thunderstorms at tropospheric altitudes. Recently the first observation of lightning‐related transient luminous events in Jupiter's ionosphere was reported. Considering Jupiter's conditions, we present here the first modeling of filamentary plasma structures called streamers that are known to produce the brightest optical emissions among different types of transient luminous events in the Earth's atmosphere. In contrast the streamer plasma in Jupiter's atmosphere is strongly magnetized. Key Points Inception of sprite streamers under realistic atmospheric conditions on Jupiter is possible Due to Jupiter's strong magnetic field at altitudes where possible transient luminous events emerge, the gas discharge plasma is magnetized Contribution of H2 photoionization due to extreme ultraviolet emissions from atomic helium to streamer propagation is negligible