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Can Jupiter's Magnetosheath be Observed With a SMILE-Like Mission?
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  • Fenn Leppard,
  • Atlas Mayako Patrick,
  • Licia C Ray,
  • William Richard Dunn,
  • Howard Todd Smith,
  • Zhonghua Yao,
  • Binzheng Zhang,
  • Tianran Sun,
  • Chi Wang
Fenn Leppard
The University of Hong Kong

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Atlas Mayako Patrick
Northumbria University
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Licia C Ray
Lancaster University
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William Richard Dunn
University College London
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Howard Todd Smith
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
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Zhonghua Yao
The University of Hong Kong
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Binzheng Zhang
The University of Hong Kong
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Tianran Sun
National Space Science Center
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Chi Wang
National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Solar wind charge exchange (SWCX) generated soft X-rays are used extensively to study the interfaces between charged and neutral particles throughout the solar system. This paper outlines the development of a model of Jupiter’s magnetosheath using MHD derived boundary equations and a combination of in situ Juno measurements and numerical models for neutral and charged particle distributions. These are then used to model SWCX emissions in the Jovian magnetosheath for the O$_{VII}$ triplet to determine if the magnetosheath could be imaged in a similar fashion to the planned SMILE mission at Earth. We determine that whole detector counts per minute range from 10$^{-5\pm1}$ to 10$^{-3\pm1}$ for various spacecraft, and, as such, argue that with current instrument sensitivity it is infeasible to study the X-ray emissions from the Jovian magnetosheath. However, with a theoretical x-ray imager with an effective area of 1m$^2$ and FOV of $120^{\circ}\times120^{\circ}$ increases to a peak of $\sim$10$^{0\pm1}$ c/min when observing from a distance of 40 R$_J$. We also discuss the implications of the low emission rates on other higher signal X-ray observations at Jupiter and the possibility of Saturn being a better target for such a mission.
18 Oct 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
18 Oct 2024Published in ESS Open Archive