Asymmetric Kelvin‐Helmholtz Instability at Jupiter's Magnetopause Boundary: Implications for Corotation‐Dominated Systems. Issue 1 (8th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, B.; Delamere, P. A.; Ma, X.; Burkholder, B.; Wiltberger, M.; Lyon, J. G.; Merkin, V. G.; Sorathia, K. A.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 45:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 63
• Publication Date: 2018-01-08
• Subjects: Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability -- Jupiter magnetosphere -- global MHD -- dawn‐dusk asymmetry -- solar wind‐magnetosphere interactions; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2017GL076315
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: The multifluid Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry (MFLFM) global magnetosphere model is used to study the interactions between solar wind and rapidly rotating, internally driven Jupiter magnetosphere. The MFLFM model is the first global simulation of Jupiter magnetosphere that captures the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability (KHI) in the critically important subsolar region. Observations indicate that Kelvin‐Helmholtz vortices are found predominantly in the dusk sector. Our simulations explain that this distribution is driven by the growth of KHI modes in the prenoon and subsolar region (e.g., >10 local time) that are advected by magnetospheric flows to the dusk sector. The period of density fluctuations at the dusk terminator flank (18 magnetic local time, MLT) is roughly 1.4 h compared with 7.2 h at the dawn flank (6 MLT). Although the simulations are only performed using parameters of the Jupiter's magnetosphere, the results may also have implications for solar wind‐magnetosphere interactions at other corotation‐dominated systems such as Saturn. For instance, the simulated average azimuthal speed of magnetosheath flows exhibit significant dawn‐dusk asymmetry, consistent with recent observations at Saturn. The results are particularly relevant for the ongoing Juno mission and the analysis of dawnside magnetopause boundary crossings for other planetary missions. Key Points: KHI in the subsolar region is critically important for boundary layer dynamics in Jupiter's magnetosphere Simulations show that duskward moving KH waves originate at around 10 MLT, and stationary KH waves form on the dawnside around 08‐09 MLT Duskside density fluctuations associated with KHI exhibit much longer periodicity compared to those on the dawnside