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Probing Ganymede's Magnetosphere with Field Line ResonancesWe report on the spectrum of field line resonances identified in data acquired by the Galileo spacecraft within Ganymede's magnetosphere on a relatively low latitude pass. We infer properties of the plasma distribution and its transport from the observed spectrum. The harmonic structure in the spectrum of the magnetometer data agrees very well with the frequencies predicted for resonances of a dipole field. The spectrum implies a density of 2 amu per cubic centimeter near the equator on closed field lines of Ganymede's magnetic field inside of 2 RG (Ganymede radii). This density is significantly reduced relative to the local density of the Jovian plasma sheet near Ganymede (less than or equal to 8 electrons per cubic centimeter, or approximately equal to 100 amu per cubic centimeter for an average ion mass per charge of 20 amu and average charge of 1.5 electron charges). A shadowing effect of Ganymede for the flow of particles injected at a reconnection layer on the side of the moon downstream relative to the direction of torus plasma flow accounts for the marked density depletion. Implications for conducting paths near Ganymede's surface are considered.
Document ID
20020047003
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Volwerk, M.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA United States)
Kivelson, M. G.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA United States)
Khurana, K. K.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA United States)
McPherron, R. L.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 104
Issue: A7
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
UCLA-IGPP-Publ-5105
Paper-1999JA900161
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: JPL-958694
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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