Energetic protons in the Jovian magnetosphere. [0. 2 to 20 MeV]

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5790228

Mcdonald, F B; Schardt, A W; Trainor, J H

The time histories, angular distributions and energy spectra of energetic protons were measured over an energy range extending from 0.2 - 20 MeV for the four passes of Pioneers 10 and 11 through the Jovian magnetosphere. Azimuthal asymmetries appear to dominate with time variations also contributing to the very complex topology. On the inbound P-10 pass the expected corotation anisotropy was not observed in the outer magnetosphere, this absence supporting the probable existence of a planetary wind in this region. Near the dawn meridian particle streaming away from the planet begins at about 15 RJ. On both the P-10 inbound and P-11 outbound passes, there are regions where only partial corotation is achieved. In the mid-magnetosphere, field-aligned streaming away from the near-equatorial current sheet region is the most prominent feature. At mid-latitudes in the subsolar regime, the streaming pattern is more chaotic and its magnitude is smaller. Qualitative discussions are presented for a number of possible mechanisms which could produce this streaming.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (USA). Goddard Space Flight Center
• OSTI ID: 5790228
• Report Number(s): N-79-18867
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
ATMOSPHERES
BARYONS
DATA ACQUISITION
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
HADRONS
JUPITER PLANET
MEV RANGE
MEV RANGE 01-10
MEV RANGE 100-1000
MOTION
NUCLEONS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
PROTONS
ROTATION
SPECTRA
SYMMETRY
TIME DEPENDENCE