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Characterising the magnetic and plasma environment upstream of Ganymede
  • +3
  • Alexandre Santos,
  • Nicholas Achilleos,
  • Dimitrios Millas,
  • William Richard Dunn,
  • Patrick Guio,
  • Christopher Stephen Arridge
Alexandre Santos
University College London

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Nicholas Achilleos
University College London
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Dimitrios Millas
Royal Observatory of Belgium
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William Richard Dunn
University College London
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Patrick Guio
University College London
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Christopher Stephen Arridge
Lancaster University
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Abstract

We present an application of the latest UCL-AGA magnetodisc model (MDISC) to the study of the magnetic and plasma conditions in the near-Ganymede space. By doing this, we provide a comparison with measurements from Juno’s most recent flyby of the Jovian moon, perijove 34 (PJ34). We find good agreement between the model results and the magnetometer data, pointing towards a hot plasma index value $K_h = \SI{2.719(24)e7}{\pascal\,\meter\,\tesla^{-1}}$ and an effective magnetodisc radius $r_{\text{max}} = \SI{79.5(11)}{}$ Jupiter radii for the Jovian magnetosphere, for the duration of the trajectory, suggesting a configuration with middling levels of expansion. We also predict the plasma conditions observed by Juno during the same flight-path, as well as the typical conditions over the orbit of Ganymede, with the magnetic and hot plasma pressures assuming dominant roles. Finally, these results are compared with functional fits of a compilation of Galileo flyby data obtained in the vicinity of Ganymede’s orbit, suggesting Juno experienced somewhat similar conditions, despite a systematic overestimation in magnetic field intensity in the near-Ganymede space.
01 Apr 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
16 Apr 2024Published in ESS Open Archive