Pitch-angle diffusion by whistler mode waves near the Io plasma torus

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL006i008p00653· OSTI ID:5939269

Scarf, F L; Coroniti, F V; Gurnett, D A; Kurth, W S

As Voyager 1 traversed the inner radiation belt of Jupiter, wave-particle interactions involving energetic electrons and whistler mode turbulence were strongly affected by the presence of the Io plasma torus. Within the high density torus the resonant electron energy was low and the associated high index of refraction yielded high B-to-E ratios for the wave fields, leading to very strong pitch-angle scattering. We show that significant spatial and temporal variations in plasma conditions produced large fluctuations in local scattering times, and we discuss the problems associated with the evaluation of precipitation lifetimes.

• Research Organization: Space Sciences Department, TRW Defense Space Systems Group, One Space Park, Redondo Beach, California 90278
• OSTI ID: 5939269
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 6:8; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
JUPITER PLANET
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
RADIATION BELTS
SATELLITES
SPACE VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES