EFFELSBERG OBSERVATIONS OF THE EVOLUTION OF JUPITERS RADIO BRIGHTNESSDURING AND AFTER THE IMPACTS OF COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY-9

The Effelsberg 100 m Radio Telescope monitored Jupiter's radio brightn ess before, during and after the impacts of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Si gnificant increases in the nonthermal flux density were detected durin g the week of impacts. The brightness level did not rise uniformly dur ing the impact week. The net increase in flux density at the end of th e impact week was very nearly constant for all System III longitudes. The timescale of the subsequent exponential decay was tau similar or e qual to 100 days (e-folding time) immediately following the impacts, b ut increased as the relaxation continued. The relaxation process back to preimpact emission levels was quicker at the longer wavelengths. (C ) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.