Bremsstrahlung X-rays from Jovian auroral electrons

The spectrum of X-rays from the planet Jupiter is calculated according to an auroral electron beam model. The electrons are assumed to be accelerated by a field-aligned potential drop and penetrate into the atmosphere as a Maxwellian beam of primaries which are scattered, degraded in energy, and merged with a population of ionization secondaries having a power law energy distribution. The soft X-rays observed by the Einstein Observatory satellite are due to bremsstrahlung from the secondary electrons in the H2 atmosphere. The X-ray intensity is best reconciled with a beam of primaries having a characteristic energy 30-100 keV and penetrating the homopause with an auroral energy flux typically of 10-20 ergs/sq cm s but no greater than 50 ergs/sq cm s.