Magnetopause Surface Waves at Jupiter and Their Potential Link to Polar Auroral Pulsations

A surface wave is a mechanical wave propagating along the interface between two media, such as the magnetopause. Planetary magnetopause surface waves influence mass and energy circulation in interplanetary space, magnetospheres, and coupled ionospheres and atmospheres. Although surface waves have been extensively investigated on Earth and Saturn, their characteristics on Jupiter require further investigation. Our analysis of Juno in situ data reveals periodic magnetopause crossings consistent with a large‐scale surface‐wave interpretation. The Doppler‐shifted source‐period range overlaps a 13.7‐min auroral periodicity observed by the Hubble Space Telescope on the same day. This correspondence motivates a hypothesized link between magnetopause surface waves and polar auroral pulsations that remains to be tested with simultaneous observations, field‐line mapping, and precipitation diagnostics. The occurrence of surface waves in Jupiter’s rapidly rotating, strongly magnetized environment further suggests that such waves are a broadly shared feature of planetary magnetospheres and may contribute to energy coupling under diverse conditions.