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Jupiter's magnetotail as the source of interplanetary Jovian MeV electrons observed at Earth
Author(s) -
Pesses M. E.,
Goertz C. K.
Publication year - 1976
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/gl003i004p00228
Subject(s) - jovian , physics , jupiter (rocket family) , interplanetary spaceflight , interplanetary medium , solar wind , planet , interplanetary magnetic field , electron , astronomy , magnetosphere , astrobiology , astrophysics , geophysics , magnetic field , spacecraft , quantum mechanics , saturn
The source of interplanetary Jovian MeV electron enhancements observed at Earth is found to be Jupiter's magnetotail. If an average solar wind speed of 400 km sec −1 is assumed, the main region of emission extends from ∼ 1.0 AU downstream from Jupiter to ∼ 2.0 AU beyond the planet. (If a value of 350 km sec −1 is assumed, it extends from ∼ 0.4 AU to ∼ 1.2 AU.) Individual "active" zones are ∼ 0.2 AU in length. It is proposed that interplanetary magnetic field line connection with the tail is the mechanism providing the Jovian Electrons observed at Earth.