Localized Reconnection in the Near Jovian Magnetotail

The oppositely directed magnetic field in the jovian magnetic tail is expected eventually to reconnect across the current sheet, allowing plasma produced deep inside the magnetosphere near lo's orbit to escape in the antisolar direction down the tail. The Galileo spacecraft found localized regi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1998-05, Vol.280 (5366), p.1061-1064
Main Authors: Russell, C. T., Khurana, K. K., Huddleston, D. E., Kivelson, M. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Current sheets
Discovery and exploration
Earth, ocean, space
Electromagnetism
Equatorial orbits
Exact sciences and technology
Field strength
Ionospheres
magnetospheres
Jupiter
Jupiter (Planet)
Magnetic fields
Magnetosphere
Magnetospheres
Observations
Planetary, asteroid, and satellite characteristics and properties
Planets, their satellites and rings. Asteroids
Rotation
Solar system
Solar wind
Spacecraft
Spacecraft orbits
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Summary:The oppositely directed magnetic field in the jovian magnetic tail is expected eventually to reconnect across the current sheet, allowing plasma produced deep inside the magnetosphere near lo's orbit to escape in the antisolar direction down the tail. The Galileo spacecraft found localized regions of strong northward and southward field components beyond about 50 jovian radii in the postmidnight, predawn sector of the jovian magnetosphere. These pockets of vertical magnetic fields can be stronger than the surrounding magnetotail and magnetodisk fields. They may result from episodic reconnection of patches of the near jovian magnetotail.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.280.5366.1061