INPE Heliophysics and Space Geophysics Seminars – Q. Nenon (1st July, 02PM) – The radiation belts of Jupiter: open science questions, in-situ exploration and technical challenges

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Cambridge, MA

Title: The radiation belts of Jupiter: open science questions, in-situ exploration and technical challenges

Speaker: Dr. Quentin Nenon, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley

Date: Jul 1, 2020 02:00 PM Sao Paulo

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/…/regi…/tJEsc-Crrz4jH9AGdTtY9yBnJNGlZtY3laXo

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Abstract

Jupiter has the largest and most energetic radiation belts in our solar system. These are populated by electrons, protons and heavy ions that are trapped by the intense magnetic field of the planet and have velocities up to more than 99% the speed of light.
This presentation will give an overview of (1) the past, current and future planned exploration of the Jovian radiation belts by Earth observatories and space missions, and (2) the state of the art on our understanding of the origin of this complex system and its coupling with the Jovian environment: atmosphere, rings, moons, electromagnetic fields and waves.
However, the extremely hazardous environment of the Jovian radiation belts severely limits their in-situ exploration, so that they have kept many of their secrets hidden. In answer to the 2019 and 2020 calls for the Decadal Surveys of the European Space Agency and NASA, an international consortium has formulated seven overarching questions which will not be answered by future planned space missions. We will argue in this presentation why these secrets are worth unveiling for space physics and planetary science. Preliminary considerations for a Van Allen Probe type mission at Jupiter dedicated to the radiation belts will be introduced, as the technical challenges that would have to be overcome.