Plasma conditions and the structure of the Jovian ring

Abstract

We explore the dynamics of small charged dust particles in Jupiter's innermost magnetosphere and show that the systematic charge variation of the grains results in surprisingly short lifetimes. Assuming a constant production of small dust particles via continual micrometeoroid bombardment of the larger parent bodies of the main ring, this model reproduces remote sensing observations of the ring/halo region at Jupiter made by Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, and New Horizons spacecraft and observations from the ground by the Keck telescope during ring plane crossings. We use this model to make predictions for the dust impact rates for the JUNO mission, which is expected to traverse this region multiple times starting in 2016.