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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0The Astrophysical Journal

Coalescence of Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Jovian Magnetodisk

  • C. Q. Wang1,2
  • Z. Wang1,2
  • Z. X. Wen1,2
  • Z. Z. Chen1,2
  • W. D. Fu1,2
  • W. Z. Zhang1,2
  • C. X. Du1,2
  • B. L. Chen1,2
  • X. Bai1,2
  1. 1Beihang University
  2. 2Key Laboratory of Space Environment Monitoring and Information Processing
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Abstract

Magnetic flux ropes (MFRs), as a kind of reconnection product, can further interact and merge into larger ones, leading to significant energy dissipation. While such a process has been extensively studied on Earth, it has never been reported in Jupiter’s magnetosphere. Here, by utilizing the Jupiter Near-polar Orbiter (Juno) measurements, we for the first time report a potential MFR coalescence event in Jupiter’s magnetodisk. Multiple adjacent MFRs are identified by their bipolar magnetic field signatures. In the interaction region between adjacent flux ropes, we observe intensified current density, enhanced electron heating, and significant electron energization over a broad energy range. These features are consistent with theoretical and observational signatures of flux rope coalescence. These results extend the concept of flux rope coalescence from terrestrial to giant planetary magnetospheres and have broader implications for energy dissipation processes in Jupiter’s magnetodisk.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wang2026coalescence,
  title = {{Coalescence of Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Jovian Magnetodisk}},
  author = {C. Q. Wang and Z. Wang and Z. X. Wen and Z. Z. Chen and W. D. Fu and W. Z. Zhang and C. X. Du and B. L. Chen and X. Bai},
  journal = {The Astrophysical Journal},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/aea40e},
  url = {https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aea40e},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Coalescence of Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Jovian Magnetodisk
AU  - C. Q. Wang
AU  - Z. Wang
AU  - Z. X. Wen
AU  - Z. Z. Chen
AU  - W. D. Fu
AU  - W. Z. Zhang
AU  - C. X. Du
AU  - B. L. Chen
AU  - X. Bai
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/12
JO  - The Astrophysical Journal
DO  - 10.3847/1538-4357/aea40e
UR  - https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aea40e
AB  - Magnetic flux ropes (MFRs), as a kind of reconnection product, can further interact and merge into larger ones, leading to significant energy dissipation. While such a process has been extensively studied on Earth, it has never been reported in Jupiter’s magnetosphere. Here, by utilizing the Jupiter Near-polar Orbiter (Juno) measurements, we for the first time report a potential MFR coalescence event in Jupiter’s magnetodisk. Multiple adjacent MFRs are identified by their bipolar magnetic field signatures. In the interaction region between adjacent flux ropes, we observe intensified current density, enhanced electron heating, and significant electron energization over a broad energy range. These features are consistent with theoretical and observational signatures of flux rope coalescence. These results extend the concept of flux rope coalescence from terrestrial to giant planetary magnetospheres and have broader implications for energy dissipation processes in Jupiter’s magnetodisk.
SN  - 0004-637X
SN  - 1538-4357
ER  -