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Latitudinal oscillations of plasma within the Io torusThe equilibrium latitude and the period of oscillations about this equilibrium latitude are calculated for a plasma in a centrifugally dominated tilted dipole magnetic field representing Jupiter's inner magnetosphere. It is found that for a hot plasma the equilibrium latitude in the magnetic equator, for a cold plasma it is the centrifugal equator, and for a warm plasma it is somewhere in between. An illustrative model is adopted in which atoms are sputtered from the Jupiter-facing hemisphere of Io and escape Io's gravity to be subsequently ionized some distance from Io. Finally, it is shown that ionization generally does not occur at the equilibrium altitude, and that the resulting latitudinal oscillations provide an explanation for the irregularities in electron concentration within the torus, as reported by the radioastronomy experiment aboard Voyager I.
Document ID
19800052172
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Cummings, W. D.
(Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel; Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, Md., United States)
Dessler, A. J.
(Universities Space Research Association Columbia, MD, United States)
Hill, T. W.
(Rice University Houston, Tex., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 85
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
80A36342
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-78-21767
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-44-006-137
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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