Localized “Jets” of Jovian electrons observed during Ulysses’ distant Jupiter flyby in 2003–2004

Abstract We report observations of strongly anisotropic flows of electron events originating from Jupiter that were observed during Ulysses distant Jupiter flyby. A scan of the period January 1, 2003 through February 8, 2005 (extending roughly 13 months before and after the closest approach of 0.8 AU in early 2004) identified a total of 15 events with significant and short-lived (hours) intensity increases accompanied by strongly anisotropic flows away from Jupiter. We describe the properties of these events, most of which were observed within 1.4 AU of Jupiter. We also discuss their implications for large-scale direct magnetic connections across the mean magnetic field and suggest that they may provide evidence for a previously unconsidered way of enhancing propagation of energetic charged particles across the average Parker spiral heliospheric magnetic field, thus increasing the apparent rate of latitudinal and radial cross-field diffusion.