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Electron bombardment of Europa
Author(s) -
Paranicas C.,
Carlson R. W.,
Johnson R. E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl012320
Subject(s) - electron , ion , physics , atomic physics , spatial distribution , geology , nuclear physics , remote sensing , quantum mechanics
Energetic electrons trapped in Jupiter's magnetic field are a principal source of energy for driving chemistry on the surface of Europa. Here we show that energetic (10 keV–10 MeV) electrons precipitate primarily on the trailing hemisphere, and we give the spatial distribution of the dose‐rate deposited in Europa's surface. Based on this we propose that energetic electrons are a primary agent in determining the hemispherical differences in Europa's albedo, which have been attributed to differences in the incident ion flux. We compare the spatial distribution in the dose‐rate deposited by the energetic electrons to the spatial distribution in the hydrate (likely frozen, hydrated sulfuric acid) determined by Galileo's near‐infrared mapping spectrometer. This comparison supports the idea that radiolysis by the energetic electrons contributes significantly to producing the hydrate.