- 1Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (kasaba.y@tohoku.ac.jp)
- 2Tohoku Institute of Technology, Sendai, Japan
- 3Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
- 4LIRA, Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, Paris
- 5Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- 6Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Uppsala, Sweden
This paper provides the preparation activities for radio observations of Jupiter by Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation (RPWI) aboard ESA JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE), from the view for its high frequency radio observation capability in 20k –40MHz.
This part enables the characterization of Jovian radio emissions (including gonio-polarimetry), passive radio sounding of the ionospheric densities of icy moons, and passive sub-surface radar measurements. It has an enough capability to detect Jovian radio emissions from magnetosphere (aurora etc.), atmosphere (lightning), and icy moons. Direction and polarization capabilities are first enabled in the Jovian system, to identify their source locations and characteristics.
(1) Initial flux calibration was executed using solar type III radio bursts during the August 2024 Lunar-Earth Gravity Assist, using the measurements with Wind and PSP, and the sensitivity in 0.4-2 and 10-15 MHz were estimated (Vecchio et al., in printing). Caliblation of direction and polarization with antenna pattern is also now in preparation based on Cassini RPWS logics (Waters Collet et al.).
(2) Distribution and occurrence characteristics of terrestrial Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) and Jovian radiations are investigated for the detection capability in Earth flyby and Jovian observations (Yamanaka et al.; Sugawara et al.).
(3) Evaluation of the sounding capability of the icy moons' ion density profiles were studied using Jovian auroral radiations, with ray tracing studies (Yasuda et al., 2024). This technique is also applied for Titan ionosphere (Yasuda et al, submitted; T. Katoh et al.).
(4) Feasibility studies of the passive radar capability for the icy moons' surface and subsurface were studied with numerical and ray tracing studies, compared with Lunar AKR reflection detected by Kaguya (Kawakami et al.).
We also summarize the radio observation plans for Jupiter and icy moons in 2030s.
How to cite: Kasaba, Y., Tsuchiya, F., Misawa, H., Collet, B., Yasuda, R., Sugawara, R., Yamanaka, H., Kato, T., Kawakami, A., Katoh, Y., Kumamoto, A., Kita, H., Kimura, T., Cecconi, B., Grosset, L., Louis, C., Waters, J., Vecchio, A., and Wahlund, J.-E.: Preparation for radio observations of Jupiter by Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation (RPWI) aboard ESA JUICE, Europlanet Science Congress 2026, The Hague, The Netherlands, 7–11 Sep 2026, EPSC2026-186, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2026-186, 2026.