Unveiling Giant Magnetospheres: Research Advances in China and Prospectives for Future Missions

The exploration of the Jupiter system has reached new heights with the ongoing Juno mission and the upcoming JUICE and Europa Clipper missions, making it a focal point in planetary space exploration. Significant breakthroughs have emerged since Juno's arrival in 2016, shedding light on the complex dynamics of the Jovian magnetosphere. Magnetospheric research, focusing on the outermost layer of planetary atmospheres, plays a crucial role in controlling mass and energy circulation, shaping the space environment. In this presentation, I will discuss recent progress in modeling the Jovian magnetosphere using three-dimensional MHD simulations, together with comparative analyses with Saturn. The simulation results reveal the global dynamics of the Jovian magnetosphere, showcasing complex magnetic topologies and large-scale plasma instabilities that govern the mass and energy circulation within the space environment. Validated against Juno measurements, these global simulations may offer new perspectives for future space missions to the Jupiter system, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of outer solar planetary systems.