Acceleration of Energetic Electrons in Jovian Middle Magnetosphere by Whistler‐Mode Waves

An abundant multi-MeV electron population beyond the orbit of Io is required to explain the intense inner radiation belt (electrons >50 MeV) at Jupiter and its synchrotron radiation. In order to better understand the synergistic effect of radial transport and local wave-particle interactions driven by whistler-mode waves on the formation of Jupiter's radiation belt, we perform 3-D Fokker-Planck simulations for Jovian energetic electrons with the Versatile Electron Radiation Belt code. An empirical model of Jovian whistler-mode waves updated with measurements from the Juno extended mission is used to quantify the local acceleration and pitch angle scattering. Resonant cyclotron acceleration by whistler-mode waves leads to significant enhancement in the intensity of electrons above 1 MeV in the middle magnetosphere. Radial diffusion is capable of transporting MeV electrons accelerated by outer-belt whistler-mode waves into the M < 10 region, where they are further accelerated adiabatically to energies of about 10 MeV.

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