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High-Energy Charged Particles in the Innermost Jovian Magnetosphere
1H. M. Fischer, E. Pehlke, G. Wibberenz, Institut fur Kernphysik, Universitat Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany. L. J. Lanzerotti, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, NJ 07974, USA. J. D. Mihalov, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 10, 1996
Summary
Galileo
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Plasma Physics
- Space Physics
Background:
- Jupiter's magnetosphere is characterized by intense radiation belts.
- Energetic particles play a crucial role in the dynamics of planetary magnetospheres.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the energy and angular distributions of high-energy particles in Jupiter's inner radiation region.
- To determine the radial extent and boundaries of Jupiter's equatorial radiation belts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the energetic particles investigation instrument on the Galileo probe.
- Measured particle energy and angular distributions from near Io to Jupiter's atmosphere entry.
Main Results:
- Observed extremely large fluxes of energetic electrons and protons, peaking around 2.2 Jupiter radii (RJ).
- Detected significant absorption of particles near the outer edge of Jupiter's bright dust ring.
- Measured intense fluxes of high-energy helium ions (62 MeV/nucleon) peaking at 1.5 RJ.
- Identified a sharp decrease in particle abundances at 1.35 RJ, defining the innermost radiation edge.
Conclusions:
- Jupiter's inner radiation region exhibits intense energetic particle populations.
- The bright dust ring and a boundary at 1.35 RJ significantly influence particle distribution and define the radiation belt's inner edge.