PHD : Towards a better understanding of the generation and propagation of Jovian radio emissions through the magnetosphere: What exactly is the role of the solar wind? (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Since July 2016, NASA's Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter, a unique natural laboratory for studying space plasmas. For the first time, a spacecraft is performing polar orbits around Jupiter, allowing measurements to be taken not only in the auroral regions, but also at all latitudes and at all local times. The probe is currently in its second mission extension phase, with an end date currently scheduled for October 2028.

The Juno/Waves instrument offers a unique opportunity to study the Jovian auroral radio emissions produced in these polar regions by the interactions between waves and particles in magnetised plasma. Jovian radio emissions are more complex than those of any other planet in the Solar System, covering a frequency range from kilohertz to tens of megahertz and comprising half a dozen components. Their generation is very sensitive to plasma conditions in Jupiter's magnetosphere, and their observation is very sensitive to the position of the observer.

With the data already acquired, and that to come in the second mission extension, Juno will have covered more than one Jovian year (11.86 Earth years), as well as more than one solar cycle (on average 11.2 Earth years). The study of the different components of radio emissions as a function of the observer's position in local time, but also as a function of the season on Jupiter and solar activity, will make it possible to place strong constraints on the mechanisms of activation and production of these emissions, component by component.

These space weather studies have several future prospects: (i) comparing space weather between different planets with magnetospheres, (ii) helping to contextualise future observations of Jupiter without an external monitor of solar wind conditions (e.g. the JUICE probe), (iii) making more accurate predictions for exoplanetary radio emissions to aid in their detection, (iv) enabling better analysis of exoplanetary radio emissions.
• Use of data from the Juno/Waves mission and solar wind propagation models
• Understanding the visibility biases of the various components of Jupiter's radio emissions
• Determining the extent to which the solar wind controls the activation of radio emissions.
• Development of an index linking the solar wind to Jupiter's radio emissions.
• Multi-wavelength analyses (radio, UV, X-rays, particles) of atypical cases.
• Comparative analyses with other magnetised planets.
• Predictions for exoplanets.
Skills:
• The student has completed training that includes courses in planetology and planetary plasmas.
• The student can demonstrate research experience (M1 and/or M2 internships) on a topic related to planetology and/or space plasmas, if possible with a focus on modelling/numerical simulations.
• A good level of Python programming is required.
• A level of scientific English sufficient to conduct research and build international collaborations is required
• An interest in scientific exploration of the Solar System is strongly encouraged.

Your Work Environment

Study of Jovian auroral radio emissions

Astrophysics

This thesis is set against several backgrounds:
1) The second mission extension of the Juno probe, which has been orbiting Jupiter since July 2016 (the end of the second mission extension is currently scheduled for October 2028).
2) The launch of the JUICE and Europa-Clipper missions, which are scheduled to arrive in Jupiter's orbit in the early 2030s.
3) Recent detections of stellar radio emissions associated with coronal mass ejections, and the rapid expansion of research into exoplanetary radio emissions using large radio telescopes (NenuFAR, LOFAR).

Methods
Use and processing of space-based (radio, particle, magnetic field) and ground-based (radio) data
- Use of various software codes: (i) radio emission simulation code, (ii) solar wind propagation code.
- Development of software (preferably in Python) for data processing and statistical analysis.
The PhD thesis will be supervised by two supervisors, Corentin Louis (Chargé de Recherche CNRS, Observatoire de Paris) and Baptiste Cecconi (Astronome, Observatoire de Paris) at LIRA, Paris Observatory, Meudon.
The two supervisors will contribute their expertise in plasma physics and data processing. C. Louis will facilitate access to data from the Juno mission (as an Associated Scientist on the mission).

Outside the laboratory, we will collaborate closely with the teams involved in the Juno mission: at IRAP, Toulouse (Nicolas André) and at LAM, Marseille (Laurent Lamy, Vincent Hue) in France, as well as in the United States (University of Iowa City and SWRI, San Antonio) and in Ireland (Caitriona Jackman at DIAS, Dublin).

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions