Six Pieces of Evidence Against the Corotation Enforcement Theory to Explain the Main Aurora at Jupiter

2020/05/31 by Bertrand Bonfond, Zhonghua Yao, Denis Grodent
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astrobiology #Astronomy #Atmosphere of Jupiter #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Hubble space telescope #Ionosphere #Jovian #Jupiter (rocket family) #Mainstream #Philosophy #Physics #Planet #Saturn #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #Space exploration #Stars #astro-ph.EP #physics.space-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1029/2020ja028152

12 pages, 1 figure submitted to Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics

arxiv created 2020/08/18 · openalex publication_date 2020/10/16 · arxiv updated 2020/10/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Abstract The most remarkable feature of the ultraviolet auroras at Jupiter is the ever‐present and almost continuous curtain of bright emissions centered on each magnetic pole and called the main emissions. According to the widely accepted theory, it results from an electric current loop transferring momentum from the Jovian ionosphere to the magnetospheric plasma. However, predictions based on this theory have been recently challenged by observations from Juno and the Hubble Space Telescope. Here we review the main contradictory observations, expose their implications for the theory, and discuss promising paths forward.

Citations

• Modulation of Jovian middle magnetosphere currents and auroral precipitation by solar wind-induced compressions and expansions of the magnetosphere: initial response and steady state
• Origin of the main auroral oval in Jupiter's coupled magnetosphere–ionosphere system
• Jupiter’s magnetosphere and aurorae observed by the Juno spacecraft during its first polar orbits