Two-species, 3D, MHD simulation of Europa's interaction with Jupiter's magnetosphere

The interaction of Europa with the Jovian magnetosphere has been studied by using a two species ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical model. This model considers the upstream plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere and the mol ecular oxygen ions in the ionosphere of Europa, separately. We present resu lts from simulation studies, which take into account impact ionization, rec ombination, and the effect of a possible induced dipole magnetic held of Eu ropa. The total mass loading of the magnetospheric how and the ionization f requency used in the model are consistent with the estimates of Europa's io nosphere and atmosphere. The multi-species MHD equations are solved by usin g a finite volume, high-order, Godunov-type method on an adaptively refined unstructured grid, which allows detailed modeling of the region near Europ a's surface, while still resolving both the upstream region and the satelli te's wake. We have paid special attention to the wake of Europa, in order t o be able to make comparisons with the Galileo's E4 flyby observations, as well as other model calculations. The calculated escape flux of O-2(+) down the tail was found to be about 5.6 x 10(25) S-1.