Observations of sunward and tailward ion streaming in the magnetotail of Jupiter with Voyager 2
The author has undertaken a study of the energetic ions (H, He, O, S; E greater than or equal to 200 KeV/nuc) in the Jovian magnetotail using the LECP instrument onboard Voyager 2. Seven periods of ion streaming, indicative of ion acceleration in progress in the magnetotail were found inside the magnetopause between 90-170 R/sub J/ from Jupiter. Previous work has shown the need for a local ion acceleration mechanism in the outer Jovian magnetosphere. This need could be satisfied by ion acceleration in the Jovian magnetotail. About one third of the Voyager 2 plasma sheet encounters between 90-170 R/sub J/ showed tailward or sunward ion streaming, with the rest having corotation flow directions. The ion streaming periods lasted from 10 minutes up to 4 hours and had bulk flow speeds between 900-3400 km/sec, when the data were consistent, with bulk flow of the ion population. In three events the ions were moving sunward. In the other four events the ions were moving tailward. In addition, five periods of tailward streaming were found in the magnetosheath out to a distance of 225 R/sub J/ (the limit of this study) with flow speeds of 1100-2200 km/sec, much faster than the approx.300 km/sec flow speed expected of magnetosheath flow, but not all species or intervals were consistent with bulk flow. The presence of oxygen and sulfur indicate that some of these ions are of magnetospheric origin. Conclusions from a study of these ion streams are presented briefly.
- Research Organization:
- Maryland Univ., College Park (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6932003
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
IONS
ACCELERATION
JUPITER PLANET
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLASMA SHEET
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES
ATMOSPHERES
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETS
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena