Ray Tracing of Whistler Mode Waves in Jupiter's Magnetosphere

Abstract Previous statistical studies have described the distributions and properties of whistler‐mode waves in Jupiter's magnetosphere, but explaining these wave distributions requires modeling wave propagation from their generation near the magnetic equator. In this letter, we conduct ray tra...

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Main Authors: Ning Kang, Qianli Ma, Jacob Bortnik, Murong Qin, Wen Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113727
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author Ning Kang
Qianli Ma
Jacob Bortnik
Murong Qin
Wen Li
author_facet Ning Kang
Qianli Ma
Jacob Bortnik
Murong Qin
Wen Li
author_sort Ning Kang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Previous statistical studies have described the distributions and properties of whistler‐mode waves in Jupiter's magnetosphere, but explaining these wave distributions requires modeling wave propagation from their generation near the magnetic equator. In this letter, we conduct ray tracing of whistler‐mode waves based on realistic Jovian magnetic field and density models. The ray tracing results generally agree with the statistical wave distributions based on Juno measurements. The modeled ray paths show that high‐frequency waves generated near the equator are confined within 20° magnetic latitude due to Landau damping, low‐frequency waves can propagate to higher latitudes and lower M‐shells, with changing wave normal angles, and a portion of low‐frequency waves could propagate to high M shells at high latitudes. Our modeling results provide a theoretical interpretation of whistler‐mode wave distributions and properties, providing essential insights for future radiation belt models at Jupiter.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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spelling doaj-art-b7d436820e8d41738b834ad9d87caa6c2025-08-20T02:57:17ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-03-01525n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113727Ray Tracing of Whistler Mode Waves in Jupiter's MagnetosphereNing Kang0Qianli Ma1Jacob Bortnik2Murong Qin3Wen Li4Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California Los Angeles CA USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California Los Angeles CA USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California Los Angeles CA USACenter for Space Physics Boston University Boston MA USACenter for Space Physics Boston University Boston MA USAAbstract Previous statistical studies have described the distributions and properties of whistler‐mode waves in Jupiter's magnetosphere, but explaining these wave distributions requires modeling wave propagation from their generation near the magnetic equator. In this letter, we conduct ray tracing of whistler‐mode waves based on realistic Jovian magnetic field and density models. The ray tracing results generally agree with the statistical wave distributions based on Juno measurements. The modeled ray paths show that high‐frequency waves generated near the equator are confined within 20° magnetic latitude due to Landau damping, low‐frequency waves can propagate to higher latitudes and lower M‐shells, with changing wave normal angles, and a portion of low‐frequency waves could propagate to high M shells at high latitudes. Our modeling results provide a theoretical interpretation of whistler‐mode wave distributions and properties, providing essential insights for future radiation belt models at Jupiter.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113727
spellingShingle Ning Kang
Qianli Ma
Jacob Bortnik
Murong Qin
Wen Li
Ray Tracing of Whistler Mode Waves in Jupiter's Magnetosphere
Geophysical Research Letters
title Ray Tracing of Whistler Mode Waves in Jupiter's Magnetosphere
title_full Ray Tracing of Whistler Mode Waves in Jupiter's Magnetosphere
title_fullStr Ray Tracing of Whistler Mode Waves in Jupiter's Magnetosphere
title_full_unstemmed Ray Tracing of Whistler Mode Waves in Jupiter's Magnetosphere
title_short Ray Tracing of Whistler Mode Waves in Jupiter's Magnetosphere
title_sort ray tracing of whistler mode waves in jupiter s magnetosphere
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113727
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AT jacobbortnik raytracingofwhistlermodewavesinjupitersmagnetosphere
AT murongqin raytracingofwhistlermodewavesinjupitersmagnetosphere
AT wenli raytracingofwhistlermodewavesinjupitersmagnetosphere