Physics
Scientific paper
May 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agusm.p22a..12d&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2002, abstract #P22A-12
Physics
2756 Planetary Magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6030), 5737 Magnetospheres (2756)
Scientific paper
The interaction between Io and Jupiter was dramatically illustrated by recent ultraviolet and infrared imaging of the Io-induced Jovian aurora. Bright auroral emissions were observed at the base of Io's flux tube with emissions at the footprint of Io's wake extending large distances downstream (roughly 180 deg around Jupiter). The extended emission trail is poorly understood. We propose as a possible explanation for the persisting wake emissions a nonideal plasma interaction between Iogenic plasma and the Jovian ionosphere that is caused by field-aligned electric fields. The fundamental problem is the transfer of momentum from the corotating torus/Jovian ionosphere to the subcorotating Iogenic plasma via the Alfvenic interaction. Intense field-aligned currents associated with the Alfvenic disturbance can lead to the formation of parallel electric fields. By comparing the field-aligned current density of the initial Alfvenic disturbance to that of a one-dimensional, steady-state Vlasov calculation for the Io flux tube, we infer a current limitation, or momentum decoupling, caused by a high latitude field-aligned potential drop. The resulting nonideal plasma flow allows decoupling between a subcorotating flux tube and the Jovian ionosphere and hence the persistence of auroral emissions for large distances downstream of the initial Io-disturbed flux tube.
Bagenal Fran
Delamere Peter A.
Ergun Robert
Su Yuehua
No associations
LandOfFree
Nonideal momentum coupling between Iogenic plasma and the Jovian ionosphere 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 Nonideal momentum coupling between Iogenic plasma and the Jovian ionosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Nonideal momentum coupling between Iogenic plasma and the Jovian ionosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1721651