Comparative JWST/NIRSpec Variability of Auroral T-dwarf Atmospheres

Aurorae at radio wavelengths indicate that stable large-scale magnetospheric currents can drive persistent energetic electron beams into brown dwarf atmospheres. Energy deposition from this auroral electron precipitation should drive a variety of upper atmospheric processes, including significant heating and ion chemistry. The recent evidence of thermal inversions in JWST data sets in a couple of brown dwarf atmospheres may be a consequence of this kind of coupling between the atmosphere and magnetospheric currents. We present preliminary studies of known radio bright brown dwarfs using JWST NIRSPEC to assess infrared auroral signatures, their rotational variations, and correlations with existing auroral diagnostics in the radio. We define prospects for using IR extrasolar aurorae to assess the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in substellar atmospheres.