Triton: Topside ionosphere and nitrogen escape | Zendy

Yung Y. L. | Zendy; Lyons J. R. | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Premium

Triton: Topside ionosphere and nitrogen escape

Author(s) -

Yung Y. L.,

Lyons J. R.

Publication year - 1990

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/gl017i010p01717

Subject(s) - dissociative recombination , physics , ionosphere , ion , ionization , photoionization , electron , plasma , atomic physics , atmospheric escape , thermosphere , magnetosphere , atmospheric sciences , astrophysics , astronomy , recombination , chemistry , planet , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , gene

The principal ion in the ionosphere of Triton is N + . Energetic electrons of magnetospheric origin are the primary source of ionization, with a smaller contribution due to photoionization. To explain the topside plasma scale height, we postulate that N + ions escape from Triton. The loss rate is 3.4 × 10 7 cm −2 s −1 or 7.9 × 10 24 ions s −1 . Dissociative recombination of N + 2 produces neutral exothermic fragments that can escape from Triton. The rate is estimated to be 8.6 × 10 6 N cm −2 s −1 or 2.0 × 10 24 atoms s −1 . Implications for the magnetosphere of Neptune and Triton's evolution are discussed.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research