ROSAT observations of the Jupiter aurora

Authors:
  • JWJ. H. Waite
    J. H. Waite
  • FBF. Bagenal
    F. Bagenal
  • FSF. Seward
    F. Seward
  • CNC. Na
    C. Na
  • GGG. R. Gladstone
    G. R. Gladstone
  • TCT. E. Cravens
    T. E. Cravens
  • KHK. C. Hurley
    K. C. Hurley
  • JCJ. T. Clarke
    J. T. Clarke
  • RER. Elsner
    R. Elsner
  • SSS. A. Stern
    S. A. Stern
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Abstract
Röntgen satellite (ROSAT) high‐resolution imager (HRI) and position sensitive proportional counter (PSPC) observations of Jupiter obtained in April 1991 and May 1992 reveal soft X ray emissions apparently associated with Jupiter's aurora and similar to X ray emissions observed earlier by the Einstein Observatory. The HRI images show emission mainly from Jupiter's northern hemisphere at all Jovian longitudes observed, and there is some indication of a longitudinal modulation of the emission in phase with the well‐known ultraviolet modulation of the northern aurora. The PSPC data reveal a very soft spectrum. Comparison of the observed spectrum with models for both electron bremsstrahlung radiation and line emission from S and O ions indicates that the line spectrum gives a much better statistical fit to the observed spectrum. The X ray observations presented here therefore support the hypothesis that ion precipitation is the most likely cause of the Jovian X ray emissions, a result first suggested by the Einstein results [Metzger et al., 1983].

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