A nebula of gases from Io surrounding Jupiter

Stamatios M. Krimigis (), Donald G. Mitchell, Douglas C. Hamilton, Jannis Dandouras, Thomas P. Armstrong, Scott J. Bolton, Andrew F. Cheng, George Gloeckler, K. C. Hsieh, Edwin P. Keath, Norbert Krupp, Andreas Lagg, Louis J. Lanzerotti, Stefano Livi, Barry H. Mauk, Richard W. McEntire, Edmond C. Roelof, Berend Wilken and Donald J. Williams
Additional contact information
Stamatios M. Krimigis: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
Donald G. Mitchell: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
Douglas C. Hamilton: University of Maryland
Jannis Dandouras: CNES
Thomas P. Armstrong: Fundamental Technologies
Scott J. Bolton: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Andrew F. Cheng: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
George Gloeckler: University of Maryland
K. C. Hsieh: University of Arizona
Edwin P. Keath: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
Norbert Krupp: Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie
Andreas Lagg: Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie
Louis J. Lanzerotti: Bell Laboratories
Stefano Livi: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
Barry H. Mauk: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
Richard W. McEntire: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
Edmond C. Roelof: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University
Berend Wilken: Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie
Donald J. Williams: Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University

Nature, 2002, vol. 415, issue 6875, 994-996

Abstract: Abstract Several planetary missions have reported1,2,3,4 the presence of substantial numbers of energetic ions and electrons surrounding Jupiter; relativistic electrons are observable up to several astronomical units (au) from the planet. A population of energetic (>30 keV) neutral particles also has been reported5, but the instrumentation was not able to determine the mass or charge state of the particles, which were subsequently labelled6 energetic neutral atoms. Although images showing the presence of the trace element sodium were obtained7, the source and identity of the neutral atoms—and their overall significance relative to the loss of charged particles from Jupiter's magnetosphere—were unknown. Here we report the discovery by the Cassini spacecraft of a fast (>103 km s-1) and hot magnetospheric neutral wind extending more than 0.5 au from Jupiter, and the presence of energetic neutral atoms (both hot and cold) that have been accelerated by the electric field in the solar wind. We suggest that these atoms originate in volcanic gases from Io, undergo significant evolution through various electromagnetic interactions, escape Jupiter's magnetosphere and then populate the environment around the planet. Thus a ‘nebula’ is created that extends outwards over hundreds of jovian radii.

Date: 2002
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DOI: 10.1038/415994a

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