Energetic ion acceleration and transport in the upstream region of Jupiter: Voyager 1 and 2

Abstract

Long-lived upstream energetic ion events at Jupiter appear to be very similar in nearly all respects to upstream ion events at earth. A notable difference between the two planetary systems is the enhanced heavy ion compositional signature reported for the Jovian events. This compositional feature has suggested that ions escaping from the Jovian magnetosphere play an important role in forming upstream ion populations at Jupiter. In contrast, models of energetic upstream ions at earth emphasize in situ acceleration of reflected solar wind ions within the upstream region itself. Using Voyager 1 and 2 energetic (≳ 30 keV) ion measurements near the magnetopause, in the magnetosheath, and immediately upstream of the bow shock, we examine the compositional patterns together with typical energy spectra in each of these regions. We find characteristic spectral changes late in ion events observed upstream of the bow shock at the same time that heavy ion fluxes are enhanced and energetic electrons are present. A model involving upstream Fermi acceleration early in events and emphasizing energetic particle escape in the prenoon part of the Jovian magnetosphere late in events is presented to explain many of the features in the upstream region of Jupiter.