On the energy crisis in the Io plasma torus
Abstract
Recent calculations of the energy balance of the Io plasma torus show that the observed UV and EUV radiation cannot be maintained solely via energy input by the ion pickup mechanism. Current theoretical models of the torus must be modified to include non-local energy input. It is argued that the required energy may be supplied by inward diffusion of energetic heavy ions with energies less than about 20 keV.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- June 1988
- DOI:
- 10.1029/GL015i006p00545
- Bibcode:
- 1988GeoRL..15..545S
- Keywords:
-
- Energy Distribution;
- Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation;
- Io;
- Jupiter Atmosphere;
- Planetary Magnetospheres;
- Toroidal Plasmas;
- Electron Energy;
- Energetic Particles;
- Ion Temperature;
- Oxygen Ions;
- Sulfur;
- JUPITER;
- IO;
- SATELLITES;
- PLASMA TORUS;
- ENERGY;
- CALCULATIONS;
- ULTRAVIOLET;
- THEORETICAL STUDIES;
- DIFFUSION;
- HEAVY IONS;
- HYPOTHESES;
- Magnetospheric Physics: Planetary magnetospheres