HDR Defense of Vincent Hue: “Contribution to the exploration of the outer planet systems:  From the atmospheres to the magnetospheres”

Vincent Hue will defend in English his “HABILITATION A DIRIGER DES RECHERCHES”

Title: “Contribution to the exploration of the outer planet systems:  From the atmospheres to the magnetospheres”

Jury:

François LEBLANC – Directeur de recherche, LATMOS, Sorbonne Université – Rapporteur
Aurélie MARCHAUDON – Directrice de recherche, IRAP, Université de Toulouse – Rapportrice
Pascal RANNOU – Professeur des Universités, Université de Reims – Rapporteur
Isabelle COUTURIER – Maîtresse de conférence, PIIM, Aix-Marseille Université – Examinatrice
Pierre DROSSART – Directeur de Recherche, Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris – Examinateur
Benoît LAVRAUD – Directeur de Recherche, LAB, Université de Bordeaux – Examinateur
Michael LE BARS – Directeur de Recherche, IRPHE, Aix-Marseille Université – Examinateur
Pierre VERNAZZA, Chargé de Recherche, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Président
Kurt D. RETHERFORD, Senior Program Manager, Southwest Research Institute, Membre Invité

Abstract:

We are currently experiencing a golden era for the exploration of the Jupiter system, with the successful Juno mission still in operation and two upcoming missions: JUICE (already launched) and Europa-Clipper (to be launched this October). These missions are designed to explore Jupiter and its nearby environment, including its moons. While Juno has primarily focused on understanding Jupiter’s atmosphere, interior, and magnetosphere, it has also performed crucial flybys of the Galilean satellites. JUICE and Europa-Clipper will explore these worlds in greater details, particularly characterizing them as potential habitats for life. Although the Jovian moons represent some of the best places in the solar system to understand the emergence of life beyond Earth, they are embedded within Jupiter’s harsh radiation environment. Characterizing the Jovian magnetosphere is therefore crucial to advancing this exploration.

This research focuses on Jupiter’s interactions with its environment through observations and modeling of the Jovian polar atmosphere (composition and auroras). Combining modeling with observations, we characterize Jupiter’s stratospheric processes, including auroral effects and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Additional findings include the characterization of the Galilean satellite auroral footprints, which directly relate to the way these moons interact with the Jovian magnetosphere. My work also contributes to mission planning and operations for Juno, Europa-Clipper, and JUICE, and will present preliminary modeling of Uranus’ atmosphere. This research contributes to our knowledge of gas giant systems and supports ongoing and future exploration efforts in the outer solar system.