Ulysses Radio Occultation Observations of the Io Plasma Torus During the Jupiter Encounter

Radio signals from Ulysses were used to probe the lo plasma torus (IPT) shortly after the spacecraft's closest approach to Jupiter. The frequencies of the two downlinks at S-band (2.3 gigahertz) and X-band (8.4 gigahertz) were recorded, differenced, and integrated in order to derive the columna...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1992-09, Vol.257 (5076), p.1531-1535
Main Authors: Bird, M. K., Asmar, S. W., Brenkle, J. P., Edenhofer, P., Funke, O., Pätzold, M., Volland, H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Electrical phases
Electron density
Electrons
Io (Satellite)
Ionospherics
Jupiter
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Modeling
Observations
Occultation
Plasma astrophysics
Simulations
Spacecraft
Trajectories
Ulysses at Jupiter
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Summary:Radio signals from Ulysses were used to probe the lo plasma torus (IPT) shortly after the spacecraft's closest approach to Jupiter. The frequencies of the two downlinks at S-band (2.3 gigahertz) and X-band (8.4 gigahertz) were recorded, differenced, and integrated in order to derive the columnar electron density of the IPT. The measurements agree qualitatively with contemporary models of the IPT based on Voyager data, but significant differences are apparent as well. The overall level of the IPT electron density is approximately the same as the prediction, implying that the amount of gas (or plasma) injected from lo is similar to that observed during the Voyager era. On the other hand, the IPT seems to be less extended out of the centrifugal equator, implying a smaller plasma temperature than predicted.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.257.5076.1531