Past Events

The complexity of Jupiter’s space environment arises from Jupiter's rapid rotation and the plasma loading process from Jupiter's moon, Io. As a result, the physical processes in Jupiter’s magnetosphere exhibit notable distinctions from those observed in Earth's magnetosphere, and our understanding of these processes remains incomplete. For example, the formation mechanism of Jupiter's main auroral emissions remains uncertain, and ongoing debates persist regarding the variations observed in Jupiter's auroral emissions during periods of intense solar wind conditions. Moreover, the substantial fluctuations in the location of Jupiter's magnetopause are generally attributed to external processes. However, internal processes associated with the dynamics of Jupiter's magnetodisc have been largely ignored in interpretating these observations. The comprehensive understanding of the changing space environment of Jupiter, essential for future planetary exploration, requires consideration of both external and internal processes. Therefore, investigating the response of Jupiter’s space environment to their influence represents an important initial step. By unraveling the interplay between external and internal factors, this study lay the foundation for a holistic comprehension of the Jovian space environment.

 

Considering the above important scientific questions related to the physical processes of Jupiter’s magnetosphere controlled by both internal and external conditions, I have conducted a series of first-principal physics-based, high-resolution supercomputing, three-dimensional global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations to investigate the dynamic responses of Jupiter’s space environment to internal and external processes. Based on the simulation results, I show that different responses of Jupiter’s auroral activities, including brightening or dimming, can be expected during periods of intense solar wind conditions. The study provides new insights into future research themes concerning the interaction between Jupiter’s magnetosphere and the external conditions. Moreover, the study on Jupiter’s magnetosphere's responses to internal conditions offers breakthrough for interpreting Jupiter's magnetopause location and dynamics controlled by Jupiter's magnetodisc and the interchange structures, with significant implications for other internally mass-loaded and/or rapidly rotating systems.