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Detailed Reference Information
Ergun et al. 2006
Ergun, R.E., Su, Y.-J., Andersson, L., Bagenal, F., Delemere, P.A., Lysak, R.L. and Strangeway, R.J. (2006). S bursts and the Jupiter ionospheric Alfvén resonator. Journal of Geophysical Research 111: doi: 10.1029/2005JA011253. issn: 0148-0227.

This article explores a possible relationship between S bursts and trapped Alfv¿n waves in Jupiter's upper ionosphere. Eigenmodes of inertial Alfv¿n waves in Jupiter's ionosphere are predicted to have frequencies (~20 Hz) that match the repetition frequency of S bursts and the two phenomena are colocated, suggesting such an association is possible. Electron acceleration or modulation may provide the physical mechanism that transfers energy from the Alfv¿n wave to the S burst. Inertial Alfv¿n waves are known to accelerate electrons with fluxes that are modulated at Alfv¿n wave eigenmode frequencies. The modulated electron fluxes, in turn, may generate or modulate the generation of the S burst emissions. The exact growth mechanism has not been identified, but we put forth and discuss two possibilities, an anti-Jovian electron beam or a ring distribution created from impulsive acceleration and mirroring. Since the Alfv¿n wave eigenmode phenomena and electron acceleration are seen on Earth, we rely heavily on analogy with Earth-based observations.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Space Plasma Physics, Radiation processes, Space Plasma Physics, Wave/wave interactions, Space Plasma Physics, Particle acceleration, Planetary Sciences, Fluid Planets, Aurorae, Magnetospheric Physics, Auroral phenomena
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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