Electron Acceleration in the Ionosphere of Io

Details Electron Acceleration in the Ionosphere of Io Electron Acceleration in the Ionosphere of Io

Aug 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003arep...47..701z&link_type=abstract

Astronomy Reports, vol. 47, Issue 8, p.701-708

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

5

Scientific paper

A mechanism for the acceleration of electrons in the ionosphere of Io due to the moon's motion through the Jovian magnetic field and the presence of Io's ionosphere is considered. Attention is drawn to the important role of the anisotropic conductivity of the ionosphere, which results in the formation of a longitudinal (with respect to the planetary magnetic field) component of the charge-separation electric field. Owing to this anisotropy, the electric field induced by the motion of Io, E i, produces in Io's ionosphere not only a Pedersen electrical current along E i but also a Hall current that is approximately perpendicular to the moon's surface in the “upstream” and “downstream” parts of the ionosphere. However, this current cannot be closed through the surface, leading to the formation of a powerful charge-separation field in Io's ionosphere. This field has a component parallel to the magnetic field, with an amplitude comparable to that of the induced electric field. Electron runaway along the magnetic field is also considered, and the occurrence of “active longitudes” and preferred locations for the sources of decametric radio emission in the northern hemisphere of Jupiter are interpreted. The characteristic energies and fluxes of the accelerated electrons injected into Io's flux tube are estimated. The energy of these electron fluxes is sufficient to produce the electromagnetic radiation observed from Io's magnetic tube.

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