Mass-injection rate from Io into the Io plasma torus

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(80)90024-X· OSTI ID:5802198

Dessler, A J

Theoretical arguments to the effect that both plasma and energy are supplied to the Jovian magnetosphere from primarily internal sources are presented. Two major assumptions are made: (1) that Io is the source of plasma for the Jovian magnetosphere, and that the outward flow of plasma from the torus is the means of drawing from the kinetic energy of rotation of Jupiter to drive magnetospheric phenomena thereby obtaining a new, independent estimate of the rate of mass injection from Io into the Io plasma torus, and (2) that the solar wind supplies neither plasma nor energy to the Jovian magnetosphere in significant amounts. A lower limit to the rate of mass injection into the torus, which on the average must equal the rate of mass loss from the torus, is therefore derivable through adoption of a value for the power expended to drive the various magnetospheric phenomena.

• Research Organization: Rice University, Houston, Tex.
• OSTI ID: 5802198
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 44; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY
JUPITER PLANET
KINETIC ENERGY
MAGNETOSPHERE
MASS TRANSFER
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND