Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jul 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993raincreptr....e&link_type=abstract
Final Report, 14 May 1991 - 20 Apr. 1993 Radiophysics, Inc., Boulder, CO.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Interplanetary Dust, Neptune (Planet), Point Impact, Radio Astronomy, Planetary Rings, Plasma Waves, Signatures, Voyager 2 Spacecraft
Scientific paper
The Planetary Radio Astronomy (PRA) instrument detected large numbers of dust particles during the Voyager 2 encounter with Neptune. The signatures of these impacts are analyzed in some detail. The major conclusions are described. PRA detects impacts from all over the spacecraft body, not just the PRA antennas. The signatures of individual impacts last substantially longer than was expected from complementary Plasma Wave Subsystem (PWS) data acquired by another Voyager experiment. The signatures of individual impacts demonstrate very rapid fluctuations in signal strength, so fast that the data are limited by the speed of response of the instrument. The PRA detects events at a rate consistently lower than does the Plasma Wave subsystem. Even so, the impact rate is so great near the inbound crossing of the ring plane that no reliable estimate of impact rate can be made for this period. The data are consistent with the presence of electrons accelerated by ions within an expanding plasma cloud from the point of impact. An ancillary conclusion is that the anomalous appearance of data acquired at 900 kHz appears to be due to an error in processing the PRA data prior to their delivery rather than due to overload of the PRA instrument.
No associations
LandOfFree
Detection of dust impacts by the Voyager planetary radio astronomy experiment 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 Detection of dust impacts by the Voyager planetary radio astronomy experiment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Detection of dust impacts by the Voyager planetary radio astronomy experiment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1231787