The ion mass loading rate at Io

Details The ion mass loading rate at Io The ion mass loading rate at Io

Jun 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003icar..163..456s&link_type=abstract

Icarus, Volume 163, Issue 2, p. 456-468.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

11

Scientific paper

The Io plasma torus, composed of mostly heavy ions of oxygen and sulfur, is sustained by an Iogenic mass loading rate of ~1030 amu s-1 = 1.6 × 1028 SO2 s-1 or approximately 103 kg s-1 , Science 204, 979-982). We argue on the basis of available power sources, reanalysis of , Geophys. Res. Lett. 24, 2111-2114), HST UV remote sensing, and detailed model calculations that at most 20% of this mass leaves Io in the form of ions, i.e., <=3 × 1027 × (ne,0/3600 cm-3) ions s-1, where ne,0 is the average torus electron density. For the Galileo spacecraft Io pass in December 1995, the ion mass loading rate was <=3 × 1027 ions s-1, whereas for the Voyager epoch with lower ne,0 (=2000 cm-3), this rate would be <=1.7 × 1027 ions s-1, consistent with the , Astrophys. J. 242, 1266-1277) mass loading limit of <=1 × 1027 ions s-1. We investigate the processes that control Io's large scale electrodynamic interaction and find that the elastic collision rate exceeds the ionization/pickup rate by at least a factor of 5 for all atmospheric column densities considered (1016-1021 m-2) and by a factor of ~100 for the most realistic column density. Consequently, elastic collisions are mostly responsible for Io's high conductances and thus generate Io's large scale electrodynamic interaction such as the generation of Io's electric current system and the slowing of the plasma flow. The electrodynamic part of Io's interaction is thus best described as an ionosphere-like interaction rather than a comet-like interaction. An analytic expression for total electron impact rates is derived for Io's atmosphere, which is independent of any particular model for the 3D interaction of torus electrons with its atmosphere.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The ion mass loading rate at Io 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 The ion mass loading rate at Io, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The ion mass loading rate at Io will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1867014