Studying Jupiter's magnetospheric response to Io's volcanic activity

木星最里面的卫星木卫一是太阳系中火山最多的天体。木卫一上的火山活动有助于维持由中性和电离气体组成的稀薄大气。木卫一大气层的电离成分与木星强大的磁场相互作用。这种相互作用导致木卫一大气中的一些气体被转移到木星的磁层。这个研究项目将研究木卫一的火山喷发如何影响木星的磁层。这项研究的结果将揭示控制行星及其卫星之间质量传递的物理过程；以及一般的行星磁层。该项目还将支持一个教师培训讲习班，通过接触低收入和代表性不足社区的中小学科学教师，扩大对科学的参与。这个研究项目将研究木卫一火山喷发的变化，以确定驱动木星磁层径向传输的机制。研究小组将在5年的时间里，每年的几个月里，使用一个35厘米长的机器人控制望远镜，配备日冕仪，每15分钟记录一次木卫一等离子体环（IPT）中硫离子发射的图像。他们将使用同一台望远镜记录木星钠星云的日冕图像，钠星云是木卫一火山活动的代表。此外，他们将使用红外线望远镜设施定期对木星钠星云进行红外观测，这是火山活动的更直接代表。高质量、高时间分辨率和长时间的观测将最大限度地记录木星磁层对木卫一上大型火山爆发的反应。通过测量木卫一火山活动与IPT之间的时间关系，以及IPT的整体亮度和东西范围，该团队将能够区分被认为驱动木星磁层质量加载和径向传输的两种主要机制。该项目还将为教师培训研讨会提供有关木卫一火山作用和木星磁力的新内容。

Jupiter's innermost satellite, Io, is the most volcanic body in the solar system. Volcanic activity on Io helps to maintain a tenuous atmosphere that consists of neutral and ionized gas. The ionized component of Io's atmosphere interacts strongly with Jupiter's powerful magnetic field. This interaction causes some of the gas from Io's atmosphere to be transferred to Jupiter's magnetosphere. This research project will study how the volcanic output of Io affects Jupiter's magnetosphere. Results from the study will shed light on the physical processes that control mass transfer between planets and their satellites; and on planetary magnetospheres in general. The project will also support a teacher training workshop that broadens participation in science by reaching elementary and middle school science teachers in low-income and underrepresented communities.This research project will study variations in Io's volcanic output to identify the mechanisms that drive radial transport in Jupiter's magnetosphere. The research team will use a 35-cm robotically controlled telescope equipped with a coronagraph to record images of sulfur-ion emission in the Io plasma torus (IPT) every fifteen minutes for several months a year for five years. They will use the same telescope to record coronagraphic images of the Jovian sodium nebula, which is a proxy for Io's volcanic activity. In addition, they will use the Infrared Red Telescope Facility to periodically conduct infrared observations of the Jovian sodium nebula, which are a more direct proxy of volcanic activity. The high quality, high temporal resolution, and long duration of the observations would maximize the chance of recording a response of Jupiter's magnetosphere to a large volcanic outburst on Io. By measuring the temporal relationships between Io's volcanic activity and the IPT, as well as the IPT's overall brightness and east-west extent, the team will be able to distinguish between the two main mechanisms that are thought to drive mass loading and radial transport in Jupiter's magnetosphere. The project will also provide new content on Io's volcanism and Jupiter's magnetism to a teacher training workshop.