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Detection of Jovian whistler mode chorus; Implications for the Io torus aurora
Author(s) -
Coroniti F. V.,
Scarf F. L.,
Kennel C. F.,
Kurth W. S.,
Gurnett D. A.
Publication year - 1980
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/gl007i001p00045
Subject(s) - jovian , physics , whistler , electron precipitation , ionosphere , torus , plasmasphere , cyclotron , magnetosphere , pitch angle , electron , equator , atmosphere of jupiter , flux (metallurgy) , chorus , jupiter (rocket family) , astrophysics , plasma , saturn , geophysics , astronomy , latitude , planet , nuclear physics , art , mathematics , literature , geometry , materials science , space shuttle , metallurgy
Near the Io torus outer boundary (L ≃ 8), the Voyager 1 plasma wave instrument detected high frequency (f) waves near one‐half the electron cyclotron frequency f c . High resolution waveform measurements demonstrate that these f ≃ f c /2 signals are banded whistler mode chorus at f ≲ f c /2 and half‐cyclotron frequency emissions with f slightly above f c /2. The high resolution spectral information, and the theory of whistler mode waves, permit us to estimate the density (≃2.5 cm −3 ), energy (few keV), and omnidirectional energy flux (10² ergs/cm²‐sec) of the electrons resonant with the chorus. Chorus precipitates about 6 ergs/cm²‐sec of few keV electron energy to the Jovian ionosphere at L = 8. Electrostatic emissions, probably electron cyclotron half‐harmonic modes, have also been detected near the magnetic equator in the Io torus region. At L = 8, the multimode pitch‐angle diffusion associated with the detected waves should produce a precipitation flux about a factor two below the 50 ergs/cm²‐sec required to generate the observed auroral emissions; however, the flux could well be larger deeper within the torus.