Scholarlink

<p>Natural light displays known as the aurora provide a captivating glimpse into the electromagnetic dynamics in space plasmas. Aurorae are not exclusive to Earth but also observed on celestial bodies including planets and even comets. Previous studies have unveiled two fundamental auroral acceleration mechanisms: electric potential and Alfvénic acceleration. However, the relation of the energy processes associated with the auroral acceleration region has remained unclear mainly due to the lack of quantitative analysis. Employing quantitative assessment of energy budget using multi-platforms from the magnetosphere to auroral ionosphere, our findings underscore the interplay between these two mechanisms. Here we show that energy carried by Alfvén waves travels from the magnetosphere to the auroral acceleration region, forming an electric potential drop that accelerates particles to produce aurorae. Similarities in auroral particle behaviors between Earth and Jupiter suggest the applicability of the terrestrial scenario to Jupiter and potentially other celestial bodies in the Universe.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Evidence for Alfvén waves powering auroral arc via a static electric potential drop

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月13日

查看全文
  • S. Tian,
  • Z. Yao,
  • J. R. Wygant,
  • R. L. Lysak,
  • J. Bortnik,
  • L. R. Lyons,
  • J. Liang,
  • R. Shi,
  • C. P. Ferradas,
  • Y. Shen,
  • G. D. Reeves

摘要

Natural light displays known as the aurora provide a captivating glimpse into the electromagnetic dynamics in space plasmas. Aurorae are not exclusive to Earth but also observed on celestial bodies including planets and even comets. Previous studies have unveiled two fundamental auroral acceleration mechanisms: electric potential and Alfvénic acceleration. However, the relation of the energy processes associated with the auroral acceleration region has remained unclear mainly due to the lack of quantitative analysis. Employing quantitative assessment of energy budget using multi-platforms from the magnetosphere to auroral ionosphere, our findings underscore the interplay between these two mechanisms. Here we show that energy carried by Alfvén waves travels from the magnetosphere to the auroral acceleration region, forming an electric potential drop that accelerates particles to produce aurorae. Similarities in auroral particle behaviors between Earth and Jupiter suggest the applicability of the terrestrial scenario to Jupiter and potentially other celestial bodies in the Universe.