Whistlers observed by Voyager 1: Detection of lightning on Jupiter

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL006i006p00511· OSTI ID:6093480

Gurnett, D A; Shaw, R R; Anderson, R R; Kurth, W S; Scarf, F L

During the Voyager 1 encounter with Jupiter a number of discrete signals were identified in the wideband plasma wave data with characteristics similar to whistlers generated by lightning. In this paper we show that the calculated whistler-mode travel times from Jupiter to the spacecraft are in good agreement with the measured dispersion characteristics, thereby confirming that the signals are caused by lightning on Jupiter and substantiating the Voyager 1 photographic evidence for lightning on Jupiter. A quantitative estimate of the north-south thickness of the Io plasma torus is also obtained from the measured whistler dispersion.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
• OSTI ID: 6093480
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 6:6; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
JUPITER PLANET
LIGHTNING
NOISE
PLANETS
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPACE VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES
WAVE PROPAGATION
WHISTLERS