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The structure of the Jovian magnetotail from plasma wave observations
Author(s) -
Gurnett D. A.,
Kurth W. S.,
Scarf F. L.
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/gl007i001p00053
Subject(s) - jovian , magnetosphere , physics , magnetopause , plasma , plasma sheet , van allen radiation belt , plasmasphere , geophysics , electron , computational physics , electron density , astrophysics , astronomy , saturn , planet , quantum mechanics
Plasma wave measurements from the outbound passes of Voyager 1 and 2 are used to study the plasma density and structure of the Jovian magnetotail. Two principal types of plasma waves are observed in the magnetotail, continuum radiation and narrowband emissions near the electron gyrofrequency. The low frequency cutoff of the continuum radiation can be used to determine the local electron density. Profiles of the electron density from the outbound passes of Voyager 1 and 2 provide evidence of a broad region of nearly uniform plasma density between the magnetopause and the inner corotating portion of the magnetosphere. We refer to this region as the boundary layer. Comparisons are made with other experimental and theoretical evidence for the existence of such a boundary layer inside the Jovian magnetosphere.