Radio imaging of Jupiter's magnetosphere with LOFAR

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

Jupiter emits intense decameter radio waves, detectable from the ground in the range ~10 to 40 MHz. They are produced by energetic electron precipitations in its auroral regions, as well as near the magnetic footprints of the galilean satellite Io. Radio imaging imaging of these decameter emissions with arcsecond angular resolution and millisecond time resolution should give access to: - an improved mapping of the surface planetary magnetic field, deduced from the highest frequency of radio emission coming from a given point above the ionosphere (emission is produced at the local electron cyclotron frequency, proportional to the magnetic field amplitude) ; - detailed information on the Io-Jupiter electrodynamic interaction: imaging will allow to measure the angle between the field line instantaneously threading through Io and the one(s) emitting radio waves at that time, which is a strong constraint of the interaction mechanism (current circuit or Alfvèn waves) ; when performed at millisecond time resolution, imaging should allow to "see" the electron bunches thought to be at the origin of the sporadic drifting decameter bursts, and to follow them along magnetic field lines, measuring thus their speed and energy, and revealing possible electric potential drops along magnetic field lines ; - correlation of radio images with ultraviolet and infrared images of the aurora as well as of the galilean satellite footprints will provide complementary information on the precipitated energy and an interesting input to magnetospheric dynamics ; - imaging of decameter radio sources through the Io plasma torus will allow to probe for the first time the torus electron density as a function of longitude through analysis of the Faraday rotation of decameter waves crossing the torus ; diffraction effects that may be at the origin of observed fringe patterns could also be studied. Very fast imaging should be allowed by the very high intensity of Jovian decameter bursts, up to several million Jansky as seen from the Earth.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Radio imaging of Jupiter's magnetosphere with LOFAR does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Radio imaging of Jupiter's magnetosphere with LOFAR, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Radio imaging of Jupiter's magnetosphere with LOFAR will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-845765

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.