Modeling the Jovian magnetosphere under an antiparallel interplanetary magnetic field from a global MHD simulation

Abstract

We present preliminary results of a new global Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation model of the Jovian magnetosphere. The model incorporates mass loading from Jupiter's satellite Io, the planet's fast corotation, and electrostatic coupling between its magnetosphere and ionosphere (M-I coupling). The basic configuration of the Jovian magnetosphere including the equatorial plasma flow pattern, the corotation enforcement current system, and the field aligned currents (FACs) in the ionosphere are presented under an antiparallel interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) condition. The simulation model results for equatorial density and pressure profiles are consistent with results from data-based empirical models. It is also found that there are similarities between the FACs distribution in the ionosphere and the observed aurora features, showing the potential application of the simple ionospheric model to the complicated M-I coupling. This model will help deepen our understanding of the global dynamics of the Jovian magnetosphere.