Detection of Exomoons through Observation of Radio Emissions
Abstract
In the Jupiter-Io system, the moon's motion produces currents along the field lines that connect it to Jupiter's polar regions. The currents generate and modulate radio emissions along their paths via the electron-cyclotron maser instability. Based on this process, we suggest that such modulation of planetary radio emissions may reveal the presence of exomoons around giant planets in exoplanetary systems. A model explaining the modulation mechanism in the Jupiter-Io system is extrapolated and used to define criteria for exomoon detectability. A cautiously optimistic scenario of the possible detection of such exomoons around Epsilon Eridani b and Gliese 876 b is provided.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/791/1/25
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1308.4184
- Bibcode:
- 2014ApJ...791...25N
- Keywords:
-
- methods: analytical;
- planets and satellites: detection;
- planets and satellites: dynamical evolution and stability;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 12 pages. 2 figures. Accepted for publication at APJ