IOS FAST SODIUM - IMPLICATIONS FOR MOLECULAR AND ATOMIC ATMOSPHERIC ESCAPE

Citation
Jk. Wilson et Nm. Schneider, IOS FAST SODIUM - IMPLICATIONS FOR MOLECULAR AND ATOMIC ATMOSPHERIC ESCAPE, Icarus, 111(1), 1994, pp. 31-44
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
IcarusACNP
ISSN journal
00191035
Volume
111
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
31 - 44
Database
ISI
SICI code
0019-1035(1994)111:1<31:IFS-IF>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
Recent observational evidence for sodium-bearing molecular ions in the Io plasma torus has strong implications for the nature of Io's atmosp here (Schneider et al. 1991, Science 253, 1394-1397). We use a Monte C arlo model of fast-sodium production to analyze high-resolution ground -based images of sodium emission. We find the observations can be expl ained if a significant fraction of Io's exobase is molecular, possibly including a sodium-bearing molecule. Total sodium loss rates from Io imply a collisionally thick atmosphere. Most of the images indicate si gnificant slow-down of the corotating plasma near Io. (C) 1994 Academi c Press, Inc.