Thermal- and plasma-induced molecular redistribution on the icy satellites

Details Thermal- and plasma-induced molecular redistribution on the icy satellites Thermal- and plasma-induced molecular redistribution on the icy satellites

Sep 1982

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982icar...51..528s&link_type=abstract

Icarus, vol. 51, Sept. 1982, p. 528-548.

Computer Science

46

Ice, Icy Satellites, Jupiter Atmosphere, Particle Motion, Plasma Interactions, Saturn Atmosphere, Temperature Effects, Earth Magnetosphere, Gas Transport, Molecules, Particle Trajectories, Sputtering, Sublimation, Velocity Distribution

Scientific paper

The molecular transport of condensed gas species across the surfaces of the icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn is examined with the view of describing, in part, certain gross visual features associated with these bodies. Molecular redistribution induced by thermal sublimation and magnetospheric plasma-ion impact on satellites with negligible atmospheres is calculated by assuming that the molecules follow ballistic trajectories and by statistically selecting initial molecular velocities and points of origin. Erosion/deposition profiles so calculated are compared for a variety of satellite sizes and environments in order to understand the relative importance of sublimation and cold corotating plasma-ion- and fast plasma-ion-induced transport. The erosion/deposition profiles are used to discuss the appearance of a polar frost on Ganymede. A balance of magnetospheric-ion implantation and ion-induced molecular redistribution is used to discuss the observation of embedded SO2 and the darkening of the trailing side on Europa. Ion-induced molecular transport may also limit the deposition of SO2 frost in the polar regions of Io and may be a source of heavy particles in the Jovian and Saturnian magnetospheres.

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