English

Comparing Jupiter interior structure models to Juno gravity measurements and the role of a dilute core

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics 2017-07-10 v1

Abstract

The Juno spacecraft has measured Jupiter's low-order, even gravitational moments, J2J_2--J8J_8, to an unprecedented precision, providing important constraints on the density profile and core mass of the planet. Here we report on a selection of interior models based on ab initio computer simulations of hydrogen-helium mixtures. We demonstrate that a dilute core, expanded to a significant fraction of the planet's radius, is helpful in reconciling the calculated JnJ_n with Juno's observations. Although model predictions are strongly affected by the chosen equation of state, the prediction of an enrichment of ZZ in the deep, metallic envelope over that in the shallow, molecular envelope holds. We estimate Jupiter's core to contain an 7--25 Earth mass of heavy elements. We discuss the current difficulties in reconciling measured JnJ_n with the equations of state, and with theory for formation and evolution of the planet.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1707.01997,
  title  = {Comparing Jupiter interior structure models to Juno gravity measurements and the role of a dilute core},
  author = {S. M. Wahl and W. B. Hubbard and B. Militzer and T. Guillot and Y. Miguel and N. Movshovitz and Y. Kaspi and R. Helled and D. Reese and E. Galanti and S. Levin and J. E. Connerney and S. J. Bolton},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1707.01997},
  year   = {2017}
}

Comments

21 Pages, 3 figures, plus Supplementary Information