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NASA NTRS1979

Voyager 1 Planetary Radio Astronomy Observations Near Jupiter

Results are reported from the first low frequency radio receiver to be transported into the Jupiter magnetosphere. Dramatic new information was obtained both because Voyager was near or in Jupiter's radio emission sources and also because it was outside the relatively dense solar wind plasma of the inner solar system. Extensive radio arcs, from above 30 MHz to about 1 MHz, occurred in patterns correlated with planetary longitude. A newly discovered kilometric wavelength radio source may relate to the plasma torus near Io's orbit. In situ wave resonances near closest approach define an electron density profile along the Voyager trajectory and form the basis for a map of the torus. Studies in progress are outlined briefly.

Warwick, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Extreme ultraviolet observations from Voyager 1 encounter with Jupiter

Observations of the optical extreme ultraviolet spectrum of the Jupiter planetary system during the Voyager 1 encounter have revealed previously undetected physical processes of significant proportions. Bright emission lines of S(+2), S(+3), O(+2) indicating an electron temperature of 100,000 K have been identified in preliminary analyses of the Io plasma torus spectrum. Strong auroral atomic and molecular hydrogen emissions have been observed in the polar regions of Jupiter near magnetic field lines that map the torus into the atmosphere of Jupiter. The observed resonance scattering of solar hydrogen Lyman alpha by the atmosphere of Jupiter and the solar occultation experiment suggest a hot thermosphere (greater than or equal to 1000 K) with a large atomic hydrogen abundance. A stellar occultation by Ganymede indicates that its atmosphere is at most an exosphere.

Broadfoot, A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Voyager 1 planetary radio astronomy observations near Jupiter

Results from the first low-frequency radio receiver to be transported into the Jupiter magnetosphere are reported. Dramatic new information was obtained, both because Voyager was near or in Jupiter's radio emission sources and because it was outside the relatively dense solar wind plasma of the inner solar system. Extensive radio spectral arcs, from above 30 to about 1 MHz, occurred in patterns correlated with planetary longitude. A newly discovered kilometric wavelength radio source may relate to the plasma torus near Io's orbit. In situ wave resonances near closest approach define an electron density profile along the Voyager trajectory and form the basis for a map of the torus. Detailed studies are in progress and are outlined briefly.

Warwick, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Diffuse Jovian aurora influenced by plasma injection from Io

The paper demonstrates that the broad band of whistler-mode waves observed within the high density torus surrounding Io is consistent with electron cyclotron generation. Cyclotron resonant instability of Jovian energetic electrons is enhanced due to the lower resonant electron energy within the equatorial high density plasma torus surrounding the orbit of Io. The higher energy resonant electron scattering and the corresponding energetic electron lifetimes indicate that an efficient local acceleration process is required to replenish the precipitating relativistic electrons. Calculated energy deposition into the Jovian atmosphere should provide a dominant source of middle atmospheric ionization and excite a continuous band of diffuse auroral emission. It is suggested that the diffuse Jovian aurora should be influenced by the variable volcanic activity on Io which is thought to be an important source of plasma, since the cyclotron scattering process is strongly influenced by the ambient equatorial thermal plasma density.

Thorne, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Io's surface and environs - A magmatic-volatile model

A model is proposed to account for the observed properties of Io. The crust is probably siliceous, but the outermost visible surface is composed primarily of several allotropes of elemental sulfur, plus frosts of SO2, H2S, and S2O. The 4-micron feature in Io's IR reflectance is identified as the (nu 1 + nu 3) band of SO2 frost. A possible source of the S is dissociation of iron sulfide brought up from the core by mantle convection. The SO2 is produced in the volcanoes, and the H2S by interaction of magnetospheric protons with the surface S. Delayed luminescence from S2O could cause the posteclipse brightening. The orbital torus is sustained by evaporation from molten ejecta from the volcanoes. Several additional diagnostic absorption bands and two additional minor torus species are predicted by this model.

Hapke, B.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Whistler propagation in the Jovian magnetosphere

The paper deals with computer ray tracing results for lightning-generated whistlers propagating in the Jovian magnetosphere. The waves are launched from a point on the Jovian surface at 66 degrees latitude and propagate approximately along L = 6 out to near the equatorial plane and into the Io plasma torus. The results clearly indicate that the whistlers propagate with very little dispersion until they reach the torus, at which time the dispersion starts to increase very rapidly. Good agreement between the computed and observed dispersions is established.

Menietti, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Standing Alfven wave current system at Io: Voyager 1 observations

The enigmatic control of the occurrence frequency of Jupiter's decametric emissions by the satellite Io is explained theoretically on the basis of its strong electrodynamic interaction with the corotating Jovian magnetosphere leading to field aligned currents connecting Io with the Jovian ionosphere. Direct measurements of the perturbation magnetic fields due to this current system were obtained by the magnetic field experiment on Voyager 1 on 5 March 1979 when it passed within 20,500 km south of Io. An interpretation in the framework of Alfven waves radiated by Io leads to current estimates of 2.8 million amps. A mass density of 7400 to 13600 proton mass units per Cu cm is derived which compares very favorably with independent observations of the torus composition characterized by 7-9 proton mass units per electron for a local electron density of 1050 to 1500 per cu cm. The power dissipated in the current system may be important for heating the Io heavy ion torus, inner magnetosphere, Jovian ionosphere, and possibly the ionosphere or even the interior of Io.

Acuna, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Lyman-alpha observations in the vicinity of Saturn with Copernicus

For the first time, high-resolution Ly-alpha observations of the Saturn vicinity were completed with the Princeton spectrometer on board the Copernicus satellite. They showed that near a minimum solar activity the emissions related to several sources are 250 + or - 50 rayleighs for the interplanetary medium in a near-downwind direction, less than 100 rayleighs for the rings, 200 + or - 100 rayleighs for a torus linked to the Titan orbit, and 1400 + or - 450 rayleighs for the disk of Saturn. These results induce some constraints through the corresponding theoretical evaluations: the B ring as the primary source of the atoms for the ring emissions; an efficient production mechanism for hydrogen atoms in the Titan torus; and a slightly larger eddy diffusion coefficient in the Saturn atmosphere than in the Jupiter atmosphere near solar minimum.

Barker, E.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Ultraviolet emissions from the upper atmospheres of the planets

Some recent results on planetary upper atmospheres obtained by means of orbiting ultraviolet observatories are reviewed with emphasis on Jupiter and Io torus. Consideration is given to long-term variation in Jovian Ly alpha emission, UV polar auroras on Jupiter, and UV emission from the Io torus. Requirements for UV planetary astronomy are briefly discussed.

Moos, H. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Plasma dynamics in the rapidly rotating magnetosphere of Jupiter

The major Voyager findings concerning the low energy plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere are reviewed. The magnetosphere of Jupiter is unique in the solar system because of its large extent and rapid rotation, and because of the prodigious source of plasma provided by the satellite Io. Io injects 10 to the 29th power AMU/sec of freshly ionized material into the Jovian magnetosphere, producing a plasma dominated by heavy ions which are mostly various ionization states of oxygen and sulfur. This injected material is the source for the Io plasma torus, which is centered at Io's L-shell with a scale height of 1 Jovian radii and a mass of approximately 10 to the 36th power AMU. Ninety percent of the injected plasma diffuses outward, forming the Jovian magnetodisk. Io interacts with the plasma torus via the generation of an Alfven wave which propagates from Io into the ionosphere of Jupiter, carrying an energy flux of approximately 10 to the 12th power watts.

Belcher, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Standing Alfven wave current system at Io - Voyager 1 observations

The enigmatic control of the occurrence frequency of Jupiter's decametric emissions by the satellite Io has been explained theoretically on the basis of its strong electrodynamic interaction with the corotating Jovian magnetosphere leading to field-aligned currents connecting Io with the Jovian ionosphere. Direct measurements of the perturbation magnetic fields due to this current system were obtained by the Goddard Space Flight Center magnetic field experiment on Voyager 1 on March 5, 1979, when it passed within 20,500 km south of Io. An interpretation in the framework of Alfven waves radiated by Io leads to current estimates of 2.8 x 10 to the 6th A. A mass density of 7400-13,600 proton mass units/cu cm is derived, which compares very favorably with independent observations of the torus composition characterized by 7-9 proton mass units per electron for a local electron density of 1050-1500/cu cm. The power dissipated in the current system may be important for heating the Io heavy ion torus, inner magnetosphere, Jovian ionosphere, and possibly the ionosphere or even the interior of Io.

Acuna, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Plasma observations near Saturn - Initial results from Voyager 2

Results of plasma measurements made by Voyager 2 in the vicinity of Saturn are discussed and compared with those made by Pioneer 11 and Voyager 1 in a more limited range of latitudes. The initial bow shock crossing on the inbound trajectory closely agreed with the shock position inferred from the external ram pressure in the solar wind, although boundaries on the outbound pass were much further out than expected. Magnetospheric plasma observations reveal the presence of (1) shocked solar wind plasma in the magnetosheath between 30 and 22 Saturn radii; (2) a variable density region between 17 Saturn radii and the magnetopause; (3) an extended thick plasma sheet between 17 and 7 Saturn radii; and (4) an inner plasma torus probably originating from local sources. The ratio of heavy to light ions was observed to vary with distance to the equatorial plane in the dayside magnetosphere, with the heavy ions, probably O(+), more closely confined to the equatorial plane. The plasma data also account for the observed inner boundary of the neutral hydrogen torus discovered by Voyager 1.

Bridge, H. S.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Photochemistry of SO2 in the atmosphere of Io and implications on atmospheric escape

Photochemical models of Io's atmosphere are presented with the assumption that SO2 is the major gas and that the SO2 surface pressure is controlled by vapor-pressure equilibrium at the surface. Photolysis of SO2 leads to efficient production of SO, O2, S, and O. Of these products, O and S are likely to be the dominant constituents in the upper atmosphere, and the atmospheric escape is expected to be in atomic form. Nonthermal escape processes are necessary to populate the plasma torus. SO2 surface densities greater than 100-billion per cu cm are needed on the dayside to supply the required amounts of S and O to maintain the torus. Surface chemistry presents an interesting possibility, namely, the conversion of O to O2, in which case O2 will be the dominant constituent throughout the nightside and over the polar caps with a surface O2 density of 10-billion per cu cm.

Kumar, S.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Jupiter and Io - A binary magnetosphere

A qualitative assessment is presented of Voyager 1 and 2 data analysis and theoretical interpretation, regarding the Io torus and Jovian aurora, dominant magnetospheric components, plasma waves and radio emissions, with emphasis on the difficulty of accounting for either the Jupiter aurora or Io torus EUV emission luminosities in energetic terms. Jupiter's middle atmosphere is also considered, with attention to observations of corotating ions, their ambiguities and their implications. After a discussion of the question of Jupiter's interaction with the solar wind, as manifested by its magnetic tail, terrestrial magnetospherics are invoked in the construction of a tentative unification of observed phenomena which is within the latitude afforded by the current state of data reduction.

Scarf, F. L.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Light ion concentrations in Jupiter's inner magnetosphere

The light ion distribution in the inner Jovian magnetosphere is investigated using whistler dispersion measurements from the Voyager 1 plasma wave instrument and heavy ion plasma concentrations from the plasma instrument. Two models are developed for the light ion concentration over 14 L shells between L = 5.2 and 6.2, one giving a constant concentration along the field line and the other corresponding to an exponential density distribution. Due to heavy ion concentrations near the equator that are typically an order of magnitude larger than the light ion concentration, results obtained are mainly relevant to the light ion concentration outside of the torus. Light ion concentration near the equator ranges from about 1-10% of the heavy ion concentration, while outside the torus the light ions are the dominant species.

Tokar, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Convective accretion disks and the onset of dwarf nova outbursts

Vertically integrated, steady state convective models of accretion disks have been constructed to explore the mechanism of instability in dwarf novae. The models and observations of dwarf novae suggest a picture in which transferred matter piles up in an optically thin torus. The torus eventually becomes optically thick, and the resulting convective structure is thermally unstable. Matter then flows inward, and the sudden conversion of gravitational potential energy to radiation is identified as the dwarf nova outburst. At sufficiently high mass accretion rates, the inflow is continuous.

Cannizzo, J. K.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn

During the time from 1973 to 1981, the giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn, have been studied with the aid of the spacecraft Pioneers 10, 11, and Voyagers 1 and 2. The present investigation is concerned with the study of the magnetospheres of these planets, taking into account the immediate region of their environment in which the planetary magnetic field is the dominant physical force, and the boundary of the magnetospheres which is formed by the interaction with the solar wind. Attention is given to the recent results obtained by the Voyagers. It is found that the basic features of the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn are similar to those of the earth. There are, however, also differences with the earth which relate to the large amount of entrapped low energy plasmas that form a magnetodisk and an Io associated torus at Jupiter, while at Saturn there is a Titan torus and a substantial ring current.

Ness, N. F.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Io: Escape and ionization of atmospheric gases

The model for the Io oxygen cloud was improved and is now capable of calculating the two dimensional sky plane intensity for the 6300A, 1304A and 880A lines, where volume excitation and ionization rates are determined by impact collisions with Io plasma torus electrons. These three emission lines are those for which observations were performed by ground based, rocket, Earth orbiting satellites and Voyager spacecraft nstruments. Comparison of model results with observations at 6300A suggests an isotropic oxygen flux from Io of about (1.5 to 3.0) x 10 to the 9th power atoms cm/sec or an overall source rate of (0.6 to 1.2) x 10 to the 27th power atoms/sec. A model for the expected but yet undetected Io sulfur cloud was also developed and very preliminary results are discussed. Quantitative analysis of the Io sodium cloud focused upon the initial task of acquiring and preliminary evaluation of sodium cloud and Io plasma torus data.

Smyth, W. H.↗