Charged Particle Losses near the Inner Galilean Satellites
Abstract
To study the losses of energetic charged particles in the inner magnetosphere of Jupiter, we have calculated proton phase space densities from the Galileo Energetic Particles Detector (EPD) data. The phase space density as a function of L shell is believed to obey a diffusion equation. In previous calculations, the phase space density in the inner magnetosphere has been shown to decrease inward toward the planet, suggesting sources at large distances, and losses due to satellite sweeping and other effects. The Galileo data reveal features indicating a loss process near the satellites Io and Europa. We also verify a region of strong loss just outside the orbital radius of Io. We will present loss rate estimates for the relevant physical processes within a diffusion context. These loss rate calculations, for instance, allow us to place an upper bound on the neutral gas distribution in radius (or L shell).
- Publication:
-
AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUSMSM51A..05P
- Keywords:
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- 2756 Planetary magnetospheres (5443;
- 5737;
- 6030);
- 5737 Magnetospheres (2756);
- 5780 Tori and exospheres;
- 6218 Jovian satellites;
- 6220 Jupiter