The Generation of Jupiter's Magnetosphere
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This picture is from a model of how the earth's magnetic field is generated.
Click on image for full size version (92K GIF)
Image provided courtesy of Glaztmeir and Roberts of LANL
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Magnetospheres are generated with 1.) magnetic materials and 2.) with motions within the magnetic material.
The terrestrial planets generate magnetospheres within the iron cores at the center. This leads to dipole-shaped, rounded magnetic fields. Jupiter has almost no iron core, certainly not a large enough one to be responsible for it's enormous magnetic field.
The magnetic material of Jupiter is found within the liquid metallic shell found within Jupiter. Motions within that shell produce magnetic field. Because these currents are generated within a shell, they produces a magnetic field with a much stronger quadrupole-component. The quadrupole component contributes to making Jupiter's magnetic field more pointed and bullet-shaped.
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"What is a Magnetosphere?"
Parts of the Magnetosphere
How Jupiter's Magnetosphere is made
|
This picture is from a model of how the earth's magnetic field is generated.
Click on image for full size version (92K GIF)
Image provided courtesy of Glaztmeir and Roberts of LANL
|
Magnetospheres are generated with 1.) magnetic materials and 2.) with motions within the magnetic material.
The Earth-like planets generate magnetospheres from iron at the center. This leads to roundly-shaped magnetic fields.
But Jupiter has almost no iron core. The magnetic material of Jupiter is found within the liquid metallic shell. Motions within that shell produce the magnetic field. The shell produces a magnetic field which is more pointed and bullet-shaped than the Earth's magnetic field.
|
"What is a Magnetosphere?"
|
Parts of the Magnetosphere
How Jupiter's Magnetosphere is made
|
This picture is from a model of how the earth's magnetic field is generated.
Click on image for full size version (92K GIF)
Image provided courtesy of Glaztmeir and Roberts of LANL
|
Magnetospheres are generated with 1.) magnetic materials and 2.) with motions within the magnetic material.
The Earth-like planets generate magnetospheres from iron at the center. This leads to roundly-shaped magnetic fields.
But Jupiter has almost no iron core. The magnetic material of Jupiter is found within the liquid metallic shell. Motions within that shell produce the magnetic field. The shell produces a magnetic field which is more pointed and bullet-shaped than the Earth's magnetic field.
|
"What is a Magnetosphere?"
|
Parts of the Magnetosphere
Last modified April 17, 1997 by the Windows Team
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