Evidence of Jovian active longitude: 3. Observational constraints

Abstract

The occurrence probability of the Io‐controlled Jovian decameter radio emissions depends on the central meridian longitude and the orbital phase of the satellite Io. Investigations by Galopeau et al. (2004, 2007) have shown that some specific Jovian “active” longitudes favor the radiation. The authors proposed a model which involves the cyclotron maser instability (CMI) as the mechanism at the origin of the Jovian radio emissions produced near the local gyrofrequency, along an active magnetic field line carried away by Io through its revolution around Jupiter. Those studies brought out the existence of an active longitude anchored in Jupiter's magnetic field and directly related to the efficiency of the CMI. In the present analysis, we model the four occurrence regions associated to Io‐controlled sources. This approach is in a reverse way of the parametric method developed by Galopeau et al. (2007). The properties of the propagation and polarization of the radio wave, derived from the CMI, are the key ingredients for the study of the beaming cone. It is shown that the lead angle of the active magnetic field line relative to Io has a significant effect on both the selection of the propagation conditions and the limit between the right‐ and left‐hand polarization states. The modeled and observed occurrence regions are found to be similar for a lead angle of about 20°. However, it seems that the behaviors of the southern and northern sources are not alike despite a common generation mechanism.