Observations of MeV electrons in Jupiter's innermost radiation belts and polar regions by the Juno radiation monitoring investigation: Perijoves 1 and 3. Issue 10 (25th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Becker, Heidi N.; Santos‐Costa, Daniel; Jørgensen, John L.; Denver, Troelz; Adriani, Alberto; Mura, Alessandro; Connerney, John E. P.; Bolton, Scott J.; Levin, Steven M.; Thorne, Richard M.; Alexander, James W.; Adumitroaie, Virgil; Manor‐Chapman, Emily A.; Daubar, Ingrid J.; Lee, Clifford; Benn, Mathias; Sushkova, Julia; Cicchetti, Andrea; Noschese, Raffaella
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 44:Issue 10(2017)
• Page Start: 4481
• Page End: 4488
• Publication Date: 2017-05-25
• Subjects: Juno -- Jupiter -- radiation belts; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2017GL073091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Juno's "Perijove 1" (27 August 2016) and "Perijove 3" (11 December 2016) flybys through the innermost region of Jupiter's magnetosphere (radial distances <2 Jovian radii, 1.06 R J at closest approach) provided the first in situ look at this region's radiation environment. Juno's Radiation Monitoring Investigation collected particle counts and noise signatures from penetrating high‐energy particle impacts in images acquired by the Stellar Reference Unit and Advanced Stellar Compass star trackers, and the Jupiter Infrared Auroral Mapper infrared imager. This coordinated observation campaign sampled radiation at the inner edges of the high‐latitude lobes of the synchrotron emission region and more distant environments. Inferred omnidirectional >5 MeV and >10 MeV electron fluxes derived from these measurements provide valuable constraints for models of relativistic electron environments in the inner radiation belts. Several intense bursts of high‐energy particle counts were also observed by the Advanced Stellar Compass in polar regions outside the radiation belts. Key Points: High‐latitude sampling of relativistic electrons at the inner edge of the Jovian radiation belts is discussed Noise from penetrating radiation is used to detect MeV electrons Enhanced particle counts were observed in Jupiter's polar regions