Upper limit to x-ray emission from Saturn
X-rays are produced in auroral discharges and their measurement can serve to characterize the interaction processes responsible for the aurora itself. The existence of auroral activity on Saturn was suggested by the observation of a magnetosphere by Pioneer 11 and confirmed by UV measurements during the Voyager encounters. The detection of x rays from Jupiter with the Einstein Observatory (HEAO 2) satellite provided the impetus for a subsequent observation of Saturn. No emission was detected. This article presents the upper limit established by the observation and derives an expected emission level assuming x ray production to be the result of bremsstrahlung from keV electrons precipitating into Saturn's atmosphere. The difference is a factor of 100. 20 references.
- Research Organization:
- NASA, Washington, DC; Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, Toulouse, France; Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA; Dansk Rumforskningsinstitut, Lyngby, Denmark; MIT, Cambridge, MA
- OSTI ID:
- 5525012
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 300; ISSN ASJOA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DATA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
PLANETS
RADIATIONS
SATURN PLANET
X RADIATION