Abstract: The main magnetic field of Jupiter has been measured by the Goddard Space Flight Center flux gate magnetometer on Pioneer 11, and analysis of the data yields a more detailed model than that obtained from Pioneer 10 results. In a spherical harmonic octupole representation the dipole term (with opposite polarity to earth's) has a magnitude of 4.28 G Rj³ at a tilt angle of 9.6° and a system III longitude of 232°. The quadrupole and octupole moments are significant, 24% and 21% of the dipole, respectively. This leads to a significant deviation of the planetary magnetic field from a simple offset dipole topology at distances of <3 Rj. The north polar field strength is 14 G, and in the northern hemisphere the ‘footprint’ of the Io associated flux tube traverses the magnetic polar region. Associated L shell splitting in the radiation belts, warping of the charged particle equatorial planes, and enhanced absorption effects due to the satellites Amalthea and Io are expected as a result of the field complexity.
Publication Year: 1976
Publication Date: 1976-06-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 202
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