Energetic Ion and Electron Irradiation of the Icy Galilean Satellites
β Scribed by John F. Cooper; Robert E. Johnson; Barry H. Mauk; Henry B. Garrett; Neil Gehrels
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2001
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 450 KB
- Volume
- 149
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0019-1035
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
β¦ Synopsis
Galileo Orbiter measurements of energetic ions (20 keV to 100 MeV) and electrons (20-700 keV) in Jupiter's magnetosphere are used, in conjunction with the JPL electron model (<40 MeV), to compute irradiation effects in the surface layers of Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Significant elemental modifications are produced on unshielded surfaces to approximately centimeter depths in times of β€10 6 years, whereas micrometer depths on Europa are fully processed in βΌ10 years. Most observations of surface composition are limited to optical depths of βΌ1 mm, which are in direct contact with the space environment. Incident flux modeling includes StΓΈrmer deflection by the Ganymede dipole magnetic field, likely variable over that satellite's irradiation history. Delivered energy flux of βΌ8 Γ 10 10 keV (cm 2 -s) -1 at Europa is comparable to total internal heat flux in the same units from tidal and radiogenic sources, while exceeding that for solar UV energies (>6 eV) relevant to ice chemistry. Particle energy fluxes to Ganymede's equator and Callisto are similar at βΌ2-3 Γ 10 8 keV (cm 2 -s) -1 with 5 Γ 10 9 at Ganymede's polar cap, the latter being comparable to radiogenic energy input. Rates of change in optical reflectance and molecular composition on Europa, and on Ganymede's polar cap, are strongly driven by energy from irradiation, even in relatively young regions. Irradiation of nonice materials can produce SO 2 and CO 2 , detected on Callisto and Europa, and simple to complex hydrocarbons. Iogenic neutral atoms and meteoroids deliver negligible energy βΌ10 4-5 keV (cm 2 -s) -1 but impacts of the latter are important for burial or removal of irradiation products. Downward transport of radiation produced oxidants and hydrocarbons could deliver significant chemical energy into the satellite interiors for astrobiological evolution in putative sub-surface oceans.
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## Abstract Energetic beams of electrons and ions are widely used to probe the microscopic properties of materials. Irradiation with charged beams in scanning electron microscopes (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) systems may result in the trapping of charge at irradiation induced or preβexisting de