Atmospheric Dynamics of Asymmetrically Magnetized Hot Jupiter

We investigate the influence of asymmetric magnetic fields on the atmospheric circulation of hot Jupiters based on a Shallow-Water Magnetohydrodynamic (SWMHD) model. The Shallow-Water Hydrodynamic (SWHD) models predict eastward equatorial jets and hotspot offsets, while some observations have revealed westward hotspots, suggesting that magnetic fields may play an important role. We incorporate asymmetric magnetic fields between hemispheres, and analyze their effects through linear perturbation analysis and numerical calculations. Our results indicate that strong magnetic fields play a dominant role in momentum transport. Asymmetric magnetic field configurations lead to hemispheric temperature contrasts, with the dayside temperature maxima in the hemisphere of stronger magnetic field located closer to the equator. With the magnetic field fixed in one hemisphere, the equatorial hotspots shift westward then eastward as the other hemisphere's field strengthens, exhibiting a pronounced westward offset only at moderate field strengths and weak hemispheric asymmetry. These findings highlight the significance of magnetic field geometry in explaining observed atmospheric dynamics and hotspot variability in hot Jupiters.

Source: arXiv:2606.12119v1 - http://arxiv.org/abs/2606.12119v1 PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2606.12119v1 Original Link: http://arxiv.org/abs/2606.12119v1