Ion phase space densities in the Jovian magnetosphere

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA095iA12p20833· OSTI ID:5312321

Paranicas, C P; Cheng, A F; Mauk, B H; Krimigis, S M ^[1]; Armstrong, T P ^[2]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD (USA)
2. NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC (USA)

The authors have analyzed the Voyager Low-Energy Charged Particle (LECP) ion data from the Jovian magnetosphere to determine the phase-space densities of particles in the region 5-80 R{sub J}. They used data only from the Jovian current sheet crossings for locally mirroring particles. These are the first calculations of phase-space densities in the non-dipolar field region containing the Jovian magnetodisk current sheet. The profiles are consistent with lossy inward radial transport and a source in the outer magnetosphere. The inferred loss rate in a radial diffusion model measuring how quickly particles are scattered out of the neutral sheet exceeds the usual strong diffusion loss rate. The energetic particles lost from the neutral sheet do not necessarily precipitate into the Jovian atmosphere, but if a substantial fraction of these particles is actually precipitated, they contribute a large part of the total auroral luminosity.

• OSTI ID: 5312321
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 95:A12; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
AURORAE
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
DATA ANALYSIS
DIFFUSION
ION DENSITY
JUPITER PLANET
LOSSES
LUMINOSITY
MATHEMATICAL SPACE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHASE SPACE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
SPACE