Jovian radiation belt particle dynamics and aurora

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and is found to have spectacular aurora and astonishingly strong radiation belts compared to the Earth. Using data from NASA’s Juno mission, we study the mechanisms behind particle acceleration to ultra-relativistic energies and gain new insights into the processes that generate Jupiter’s vibrant auroras. Dr. Li has been serving as a Co-I in the Juno mission since 2021.

NASA's Juno mission [Credit: NASA]

---

Orbits of the Juno spacecraft [Credit: NASA]

Publications:

• Li, W. et al (2017). Understanding the Origin of Jupiter's Diffuse Aurora Using Juno's First Perijove Observations. Geophysical Research Letters, 44. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL075545.

• Zhang, X.-J., R. M. Thorne, Q. Ma, W. Li, B. H. Mauk, C. Paranicas, D. K. Haggerty, J. E. P. Connerney, and S. J. Bolton (2017), Searching for low-altitude magnetic field anomalies by using observations of the energetic particle loss cone on JUNO, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, doi:10.1002/2017GL072902.

• Ma, Q., R. M. Thorne, W. Li, X.-J. Zhang, B. H. Mauk, W. S. Kurth, J. E. P. Connerney, F. Banenal, and S. J. Bolton (2017), Electron butterfly distributions at particular magnetic latitudes observed during Juno's perijove pass, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, doi:10.1002/2017GL072983.

• Li, W., Shen, X.‐C.*, Menietti, J. D., Ma, Q.*, Zhang, X.‐J., Kurth, W. S., & Hospodarsky, G. B. (2020). Global Distribution of Whistler Mode Waves in Jovian Inner Magnetosphere. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL088198. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088198

• Zhang, X.‐J., Ma, Q.*, Artemyev, A. V., Li, W., Kurth, W. S., Mauk, B. H., et al. (2020). Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer in Jupiter's Magnetodisk as Observed by Juno. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 125, e2020JA027957. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA027957

• Ma, Q.*, Li, W., Zhang, X.‐J., & Bagenal, F. (2020). Energetic Electron Scattering due to Whistler Mode Chorus Waves Using Realistic Magnetic Field and Density Models in Jupiter’s Magnetosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 125, e2020JA027968. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA02796

• Li, W., Ma, Q.*, Shen, X.-C.*, Zhang, X.-J., Mauk, B. H., Clark, G., et al. (2021). Quantification of Diffuse Auroral Electron Precipitation Driven by Whistler Mode Waves at Jupiter, Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2021GL095457. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095457

• Ma, Q.*, Li, W., Zhang, X.-J., Shen, X.-C.*, Daly, A., Bortnik, J., et al. (2021). Energetic Electron Distributions Near the Magnetic Equator in the Jovian Plasma Sheet and Outer Radiation Belt Using Juno Observations. Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2021GL095833. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095833.

• Kurth, W. S., Sulaiman, A. H., Hospodarsky, G. B., B. H. Mauk, J.D. M., Clark, G., Allegrini, F., P. Valek, J. Connerney, J. Waite, S. Bolton, O. Santolik, W. Li, S. Duling, J. Saur, and C. Louis (2022). Juno Plasma Wave Observations at Ganymede. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2022GL098591. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098591.

• Clark, G., B. H. Mauk, C. Paranicas, P. Kollmann, D. Haggerty, A. Rymer, H. T. Smith, J. Saur, F. Allegrini, S. Duling, R. W. Ebert, W. S. Kurth, R. Gladstone, T. K. Greathouse, W. Li, F. Bagenal, J. E. P. Connerney, S. Colton, J. Szalay, A. H. Sulaiman, C. J. Hansen, D. L. Turner (2022). Energetic Charged Particle Observations during Juno’s Close Flyby of Ganymede. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2022GL098572. https://doi.org /10.1029/2022GL098572

• Li, W., Ma, Q., Shen, X.-C., Zhang, X.-J., Mauk, B. H., Clark, G., et al. (2023). Driver of Energetic Electron Precipitation in the Vicinity of Ganymede. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2022GL101555. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL101555

• Daly, A., Li, W., Ma, Q., Shen, X.-C., Yoon, P. H., Menietti, J. D., et al. (2023). Plasma wave and particle dynamics during interchange events in the Jovian magnetosphere using Juno observations. Geophysical Research Letters, 50, e2023GL103894. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103894

• Ma, Q., Li, W., Zhang, X.-J., Bortnik, J., Shen, X.-C., Daly, A., et al. (2024). Generation and impacts of whistler-mode waves during energetic electron injections in Jupiter's outer radiation belt. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 129, e2024JA032624. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JA032624

• Daly, A., Li, W., Ma, Q., Shen, X.-C., Capannolo, L., Huang, S., et al. (2024). Statistical survey of interchange events in the Jovian magnetosphere using Juno observations. Geophysical Research Letters, 51, e2024GL110300. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110300.

• Ma, Q., Li, W., Zhang, X.-J., Kang, N., Bortnik, J., Qin, M., et al. (2024). Survey of whistler-mode wave amplitudes and frequency spectra in Jupiter's magnetosphere. Geophysical Research Letters, 51, e2024GL111882. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL111882