Coulomb thermal properties and stability of the Io plasma torus

Details Coulomb thermal properties and stability of the Io plasma torus Coulomb thermal properties and stability of the Io plasma torus

Nov 1983

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983apj...274..429b&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 274, Nov. 1, 1983, p. 429-442.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

51

Coulomb Collisions, Energy Transfer, Io, Magnetohydrodynamic Stability, Plasma Dynamics, Plasma Temperature, Astronomical Models, Atomic Collisions, Electron Energy, Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation, Ion Temperature, Jupiter Satellites, Plasma Composition

Scientific paper

Coulomb collisional energy exchange rates are computed for a model of the Io plasma torus consisting of newly created pickup ions, a background of thermally degraded intermediary ions, and a population of cooler electrons. The electrons are collisionally heated by both the pickup ions and background ions and are cooled by electron impact excitation of plasma ions which radiate in the EUV. It is found that a relative concentration of S III pickup ions forbidden S III/electrons = 0.1 with a temperature of 340 eV can deliver energy to the electrons at a rate of 3 x 10 to the -13th erg/cu cm per sec, sufficient to power the EUV emissions in the Io torus. The model predicts a background ion temperature Ti of about 53 eV and an electron temperature Te of about 5.5 eV on the basis of steady-state energy balance relations at Coulomb rates. The model also predicts electron temperature fluctuations at the 30 percent level on a time scale of less than 11 hours, consistent with recent observations of this phenomenon.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Coulomb thermal properties and stability of the Io plasma torus 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 Coulomb thermal properties and stability of the Io plasma torus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Coulomb thermal properties and stability of the Io plasma torus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1484505