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A dawn-to-dusk electric field in the Jovian magnetosphereIt is shown that if Io-injected plasma is lost via a planetary wind a sun-fixed Birkeland current system may result. This is due to the fact that a current flows across a density gradient produced by the loss of plasma through the planetary wind in the tail. The divergent current is connected to field-aligned Birkeland currents which flow into the ionosphere at dawn and out of it at dusk. The closure currents in the ionosphere require a dawn-to-dusk electric field which at the orbit of Io is estimated to have a strength of a few mV/m. Independent estimates derived from the local time asymmetry of the torus u.v. emission indicate a field of 1.5 mV/m.
Document ID
19840038669
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ip, W.-H.
(Max-Planck-Institut fuer Aeronomie Katlenburg, Germany)
Goertz, C. K.
(Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Aeronomie Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Planetary and Space Science
Volume: 32
ISSN: 0032-0633
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
84A21456
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7632
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-81-11126
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-16-001-043
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-364
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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