Ray tracing of Jovian kilometric radiation

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL007i001p00065· OSTI ID:5461083

Green, J L; Gurnett, D A

Results of computer ray tracing of Jovian kilometric from 56.2 kHz to 1 MHz in a model Jovian magnetosphere with an Io torus are presented. Ray tracing calculations indicate that the Io torus presents a propagation barrier to the radiation and that the Jovian kilometric radiation must be generated in the L-O mode from a source near Jupiter on field lines passing through the Io torus. One effect of the Io torus is to refract the rays away from the magnetic equator forming a shadow zone at radial distances beyond the torus. In general, at radial distances greater than 10 Jovian radii, as the wave frequency increases (>200 kHz) so does the magnetic latitude of the shadow zone. These and other features of the ray tracing calculations are in good qualitative agreement with the observations from the plasma wave receiver and planetary radio astronomy experiment on board both Voyager 1 and 2.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
• OSTI ID: 5461083
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 7:1; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FREQUENCY RANGE
GEOMAGNETIC EQUATOR
JUPITER PLANET
KHZ RANGE
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
PLASMA DENSITY
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SATELLITES
WAVE PROPAGATION