Continued observations of the H LY alpha emission from Uranus

Details Continued observations of the H LY alpha emission from Uranus Continued observations of the H LY alpha emission from Uranus

Aug 1986

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986jgr....91.8771c&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 91, Aug. 1, 1986, p. 8771-8781. NASA-supported research.

Physics

22

Iue, Lyman Alpha Radiation, Uranus (Planet), Atmospheric Models, Auroras, Brightness, Hydrogen, Proton Precipitation, Solar Wind

Scientific paper

The authors present four years of observations of the disk-averaged H Ly α emission from Uranus performed with the IUE Observatory. A detailed analysis of the uncertainties of these measurements is discussed. On the basis of roughly 30 observations the authors derive an average brightness of 1400 Rayleighs. The observed extent and time scales of the variability of the emission are presented, and no evidence for correlation with the solar H Ly α variations is found, implying a largely self-excited emission. Limits are derived from the minimum observed brightness and from a modeling of the atmosphere of Uranus for the possible contribution by reflected solar H Ly α emission, which the authors estimate to be roughly 200 Rayleighs. They therefore interpret the remaining self-excited emission as being produced by charged particle excitation, i.e., an aurora. Studies of possible correlations between the self-excited component of the H Ly α emission and the density and velocity of the local solar wind are presented. No evidence is found for any correlation between the solar wind density and the H Ly α brightness. Finally, an estimate of the total power in the precipitating particles is on the order of 1012watts and the disturbance of the upper atmosphere by the deposited energy is discussed.

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