Interior

• Pressure and temperature increase inwards

  • H2 gas becomes liquid, and eventually metallic H2
    • high pressure crushes H2, liberates electrons
    • free electrons are a good electrical conductor (“metallic”)

• Strong magnetic field -- dynamo

  • The three necessary elements:
    • liquid conductor (metallic H2)
    • rapid rotation (one day on Jupiter ~ 10 h)
    • convection
      • the trapped interior heat powers convection
    • Jupiter’s field is 14 times as strong as the Earth’s TA 83
      • very extensive radiation belts
        • Jupiter is a strong radio source
        • radiation damages spacecraft
      • impressive Aurorae
        • near N and S poles

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