Micron-sized particles detected in the vicinity of Jupiter by the Voyager plasma wave instruments

D Tsintikidis; D. A Gurnett; W. S Kurth; L. J Granroth

doi:10.1029/96GL00961

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Micron-sized particles detected in the vicinity of Jupiter by the Voyager plasma wave instruments

Journal article

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Micron-sized particles detected in the vicinity of Jupiter by the Voyager plasma wave instruments

D Tsintikidis, D. A Gurnett, W. S Kurth and L. J Granroth

Geophysical research letters, Vol.23(9), pp.997-1000

05/01/1996

DOI: 10.1029/96GL00961

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Abstract

Wideband waveform data obtained by the plasma wave instruments onboard the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft have been used to study micron-sized dust particles in the vicinity of Jupiter. The technique used was developed during the fly by s of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and makes use of the fact that a particle striking the spacecraft at 10–20 km/s causes a voltage pulse in the plasma wave receiver. The waveform of the voltage pulse is much different than the waveform of plasma waves and provides a highly reliable method of detecting micron-sized dust particles. Although the dust impact rate observed in the vicinity of Jupiter is much lower than the rates at Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the particles are easily detectable. Approximately 1200 48-second frames of wideband waveform data were examined in the vicinity of Jupiter. Dust impact signatures were found in approximately 20% of these frames. The peak impact rates are about 1 impact per second, and the peak number densities are about 10−5 m−3. Most of the impacts occurred near the equatorial plane at radial distances less than about 35 RJ from Jupiter. Analysis of the detection threshold indicates that the particles have masses greater than 10−11 g, which corresponds to particles with diameters of a few micrometers or larger.

Astronomy

Earth, ocean, space

Exact sciences and technology

Interplanetary gas and dust (including gegenschein and zodiacal light)

Interplanetary space

Jupiter

Planets, their satellites and rings. Asteroids

Solar system

Details

Title: Subtitle: Micron-sized particles detected in the vicinity of Jupiter by the Voyager plasma wave instruments
Creators: D Tsintikidis - Hydrologic Research Center
D. A Gurnett - University of Iowa
W. S Kurth - University of Iowa
L. J Granroth - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.23(9), pp.997-1000
DOI: 10.1029/96GL00961
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Language: English
Date published: 05/01/1996
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455268002771

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