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Absorption of trapped particles by Jupiter's moonsInclusion of absorption effects of the four innermost moons in the radial transport equations for electrons and protons in Jupiter's magnetosphere. It is found that the phase space density n at 2 Jupiter radii for electrons with equatorial pitch angles less than 69 deg is reduced by a factor of 42,000 when lunar absorption is included in the calculation. For protons with equatorial pitch angles less than 69 deg the corresponding reduction factor is 2,300,000. The effect of the satellites becomes progressively weaker for both electrons and protons as equatorial pitch angles of 90 deg are approached, because the likelihood of impacting a satellite becomes progressively smaller. The large density decreases found at the orbits of Io, Europa, and Ganymede result in corresponding particle flux decreases that should be observed by spacecraft making particle measurements in Jupiter's magnetosphere. The characteristic signature of satellite absorption should be a downward-pointing vertex in the flux versus radius curve at the L value corresponding to each satellite.
Document ID
19740053986
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hess, W. N.
(NOAA, Environmental Research Laboratories, Boulder Colo., United States)
Birmingham, T. J.
Mead, G. D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Theoretical Studies Group, Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 7, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1974
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 79
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Accession Number
74A36736
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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