Upper limit to x-ray emission from Saturn
Creators
- 1. MIT, Cambridge, MA
- 2. Dansk Rumforskningsinstitut, Lyngby, Denmark
- 3. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA
- 4. Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, Toulouse, France
- 5. NASA, Washington, DC
Description
X-rays are produced in auroral discharges and their measurement can serve to characterize the interaction processes responsible for the aurora itself. The existence of auroral activity on Saturn was suggested by the observation of a magnetosphere by Pioneer 11 and confirmed by UV measurements during the Voyager encounters. The detection of x rays from Jupiter with the Einstein Observatory (HEAO 2) satellite provided the impetus for a subsequent observation of Saturn. No emission was detected. This article presents the upper limit established by the observation and derives an expected emission level assuming x ray production to be the result of bremsstrahlung from keV electrons precipitating into Saturn's atmosphere. The difference is a factor of 100. 20 references
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Astrophys. J.
- Journal Volume
- 300
- Series
- Astrophys. J.
- Journal Page Range
- 453-455
- ISSN
- 0004-637X
- CODEN
- ASJOA
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- United States
- INIS RN
- 17070932
- Subject category
- S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
- Resource subtype / Literary indicator
- Numerical Data
- Descriptors DEI
- AURORAE; BREMSSTRAHLUNG; ELECTRON PRECIPITATION; ENERGY TRANSFER; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; SATURN PLANET; X RADIATION
- Descriptors DEC
- CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION; DATA; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; INFORMATION; IONIZING RADIATIONS; NUMERICAL DATA; PLANETS; RADIATIONS