Chandra Observations of X-ray Emission from Jupiter, Europa, Io and the Io Plasma Torus
by
Ron Elsner
28 September 2001
The Chandra X-ray Observatory observed the Jovian system for about 24 hours
on 25-26 Nov 1999 with the Advanced CCD Imaging Array (ACIS), in support of
the Galileo flyby of Io, and about 10 hours on 18 Dec 2000 with the High
Resolution Camera (HRC), in support of the Cassini flyby of Jupiter.
Analysis of the HRC data from Jupiter has yielded the following results:
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1) A strong, high-latitude northern auroral "hot spot,'' which is relatively
fixed near 60-70 deg north latitude and 160-180 deg system III longitude,
and which pulsates with a period of about 40 minutes and has an average
emitted power of about 2 GW;
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2) Relatively uniform low-latitude emissions, with a total power output of
about 5 GW;
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3) A southern aurora with an emitted power of about 1 GW.
These power estimates are based on an assumed emission wavelength of 574 eV
(corresponding to a bright emission line of OVII ions), and are subject to
revision as Chandra ACIS spectra of Jupiter are analyzed further.
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Analysis of the ACIS and HRC data have revealed soft (< 1-2 keV) X-ray
emission from the moons Io and Europa, and from the Io Plasma Torus (IPT).
I will present these and other results from this unique data set.
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Chandra High Resolution Camera (HRC) X-ray Image of Jupiter recorded 18
December 2000 in support of the Cassini flyby of the gaseous giant.
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