Published August 10, 2014 | Version v1
Journal article

Detection of exomoons through observation of radio emissions

  • 1. The Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (United States)

Description

In the Jupiter-Io system, the moon's motion produces currents along the field lines that connect it to Jupiter's polar regions. The currents generate and modulate radio emissions along their paths via the electron-cyclotron maser instability. Based on this process, we suggest that such modulation of planetary radio emissions may reveal the presence of exomoons around giant planets in exoplanetary systems. A model explaining the modulation mechanism in the Jupiter-Io system is extrapolated and used to define criteria for exomoon detectability. A cautiously optimistic scenario of the possible detection of such exomoons around Epsilon Eridani b and Gliese 876 b is provided.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/791/1/25

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal
Journal Volume
791
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
[5 p.]
ISSN
0004-637X
CODEN
ASJOAB

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
46070749
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
DETECTION; EMISSION; EVOLUTION; INSTABILITY; JUPITER PLANET; MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS; MODULATION; MOON; SATELLITES; STABILITY
Descriptors DEC
AMPLIFIERS; ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT; PLANETS; SATELLITES