The effect of electron precipitation on the Jovian ionosphere. Analysis of Pioneer 10 and 11 S band radio occultation data.
Abstract
The equations for neutral temperature, electron temperature, and ion densities in the Jovian ionosphere are solved simultaneously by taking into account the effects of a monochromatic beam of electrons possibly precipitated from a warm plasma ring around Jupiter. The results are compared with the Jovian electron density profiles observed by the S-band radio-occultation measurements of Pioneer 10 and 11 at various magnetic latitudes of Jupiter. It is concluded that the electron temperature could reach 850 K in the magnetic polar region due to precipitation of electrons with energy of about 100 eV, which is consistent with the large plasma scale height observed by the experiments. The computed electron density profiles were qualitatively in agreement with the observational profiles, and the peak of the main electron density was interpreted as an 'F2'-type layer composed of H(+). It is a very unlikely interpretation that the peak was of an 'F1'-type layer composed of CH5(+) and C2H5(+) produced by a very strong ionization source.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- May 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977A&A....57...85A
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Precipitation;
- Ionospheric Electron Density;
- Ionospheric Ion Density;
- Jupiter Atmosphere;
- Planetary Ionospheres;
- Radio Occultation;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Electron Density Profiles;
- Electron Energy;
- Pioneer 10 Space Probe;
- Pioneer 11 Space Probe;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration