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Magnetospheric interaction with Triton's ionosphereThe large electron densities measured by the Voyager radio occultation experiment are attributed to the precipitation of magnetospheric electrons with energy above 10 keV. Because the ionospheric electric Pedersen conductivity of Triton is about 10,000-20,000 mho and the Alfven conductance is about 3.5 mho, direct convective flow of plasma into the essentially infinitely conducting ionosphere is negligible. Magnetospheric electrons are transported to Triton's ionopause by curvature drift as a result of weak magnetic field line draping in a sub-Alfvenic plasma interaction with Triton. At the ionopause energetic electrons have a high probability of elastic and inelastic scattering and precipitate into the upper atmosphere. The average power dissipation is estimated to be about (2 - 3) x 10 to the 8th W.
Document ID
19900065478
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Strobel, Darrell F.
(Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD, United States)
Cheng, Andrew F.
(Johns Hopkins University Laurel, MD, United States)
Summers, Michael E.
(U.S. Navy, E. O. Hulburt Center for Space Research, Washington DC, United States)
Strickland, Douglas J.
(Computational Physics, Inc. Annandale, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 17
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
90A52533
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: N00039-89-C-0001
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-648
CONTRACT_GRANT: N00039-89-C-5301
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1181
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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