Residence lifetimes of 1.79- to 2.15-MeV protons in the equatorial region of the jovian magnetosphere
Abstract
The magnitude of the strong flow of 1.79-2.15 MeV protons away from the Jovian magnetic equator is used to estimate the residence lifetimes of these protons in the equatorial source region. The lifetime is approximately 1.2×105/(R-5.8)2 s, where R is distance in Jovian radii from Jupiter's center to the equatorial region of interest. At Europa an Ganymede (but not at Io) this lifetime is 1-2 orders of magnitude shorter than sweepup lifetimes by the moons. The fluxes of these protons, integrated over the observed range from 6 to 40 Jovian radii, amount to 3×1023 particles per second, per degree of longitude and carry away about 9×1017 ergs per second per degree.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- October 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1029/JA084iA10p05813
- Bibcode:
- 1979JGR....84.5813N
- Keywords:
-
- Jupiter (Planet);
- Magnetic Equator;
- Planetary Magnetospheres;
- Proton Belts;
- Europa;
- Io;
- Natural Satellites;
- Proton Energy;
- JUPITER;
- MAGNETOSPHERE;
- EQUATORIAL REGION;
- PROTONS;
- FLOW;
- MODELS;
- SATELLITES;
- EUROPA;
- GANYMEDE;
- IO;
- FLUX;
- PIONEER 10;
- DENSITY