Io's sodium emission cloud

Strong evidence that Io's sodium emission is due to resonant scattering is given by our observations which show a monotonic increase of emission intensity with residual solar intensity. In addition we detected no emission during three eclipse observations of Io. We propose a resonant scattering model with two spacial components comprising an optically thick atmosphere extending 10³ km above Io's surface surrounded by an optically thin cloud which forms a partial torus around Jupiter. In this model a flux of 10⁷ cm^?2 sec^?1 sodium atoms are sputtered from Io's surface by heavy energetic ions which are accelerated in a plasma sheath around Io. The atoms sputtered from the surface collide with atoms in Io's atmosphere so the equipartition of kinetic energy is established. The total sodium abundance is about 3 × 10¹³ cm^?2. During Io's day, sodium and other atmospheric constituents are ionized, giving rise to the ionosphere observed by Pioneer 10. Atoms escape by means of Jeans escape from the critical level, which is at the top of the atmosphere and the base of the cloud. We have observed sodium emission 6arcsec (6 Io diameters) above and below Io's orbital plane and 23arcsec toward Jupiter in Io's orbital plane. No emission was detected at maximum elongation 180° from Io. We interpret these results to mean that atoms escaping from Io form a partial torus whose thickness is about 12 arcsec and whose length is at least one-fifth of Io's orbital circumference.     

On the distribution of sodium in the vicinity of Io

We investigate the contribution of scattering in the telescope to our measurements of the size of Io's sodium cloud and to the distribution of emission intensity in the cloud. The brightest regions, within 30″ of Io near opposition and along the equatorial plane, are relatively undistorted but regions further than 45″ away and not close to the equatorial plane are very likely to consist of mainly scattered light. Portions of the cloud in the vicinity of the magnetic equator are also mostly scattered light when Io is near extreme magnetic latitude. The equatorial torus, however, extends up to 20 arcmin from Jupiter. The large size of the cloud is thus confirmed. High-resolution line profile shapes indicate that sodium streams from Io preferentially in the forward direction with velocities distributed up to 18 km sec^?1. The observed wavelength shifts of the peak intensities from Io's rest frame are compatible with a cloud streaming through a bound atmospheric component but they could also be caused by a velocity distribution peaked at very low velocities.     

Localized deposition and sputtering of jovian ionospheric sodium on IO

Because of relative motion between the innermost Galilean satellite Io and Jupiter's ionosphere, a current is drawn from the ionosphere that can be a source of both deposition on, and sputtering from, the surface of Io. We show that the ions in this current strike lo in a localized region in the quadrant bounded by a line connecting lo and Jupiter and a tangent line extended in the direction of Io's orbital motion. If these ions are the principal source of sodium that is sputtered from Io, then this current provides a simple explanation of the observation of a localized area from which sodium ions escape from Io. The geometry of this current may also affect the optical surface of Io. We suggest several experimental tests that can determine the compatibility of this hypothesis with the directly observable properties of Io's surface.     

Albedo distribution on Io's surface

A visual albedo distribution model for all hemispheres of Io's surface has been synthesized from available Earth-based and spacecraft image and photometric data. The resulting model indicates some interesting patterns and symmetries on Io's surface: The dark polar caps are shifted off Io's rotational axis and are eliptical rather than circular in shape, with extensions toward the sub-Jupiter and anti-Jupiter points on Io; equatorial bright areas are located approximately on a great circle about Io, the plane of which is tilted approximately 15° toward Io longitude 60°. These and other indicated features may be clues to understanding the endogenic and exogenic processes that have resulted in Io's present observed surface characteristics.     

Io's sodium emission cloud and the voyager 1 encounter

Io's neutral sodium emission cloud was monitored during the period of Voyager 1 encounter from two independent ground-based sites. Observations from Table Mountain Observatory verified the continued existence of the “near-Io cloud” (d < 1.5 × 10⁵ km, for 4πI > 1 kR; R denotes Rayleigh) while those from Wise Observatory showed a deficiency in the weaker emission at greater distances from Io. The sodium cloud has been monitored from both observatories for several years. These and other observations demonstrate that the behavior of the cloud is complex since it undergoes a variety of changes, both systematic and secular, which can have both time and spatial dependencies. The cloud also displays some characteristics of stability. Table Mountain images and high-dispersion spectra (resolution $\text{～0.2}\text{A}\text{?}$) indicate that the basic shape and intensity of the “near cloud” have remained relatively constant at least since imaging observations began in 1976. Wise Observatory low-dispersion spectra (resolution $\text{～1}\text{A}\text{?}$) which have been obtained since 1974 demonstrate substantial variability of the size and intensity of the “far cloud” (d ? 1.5 × 10⁵ km) on a time scale of months or less. Corresponding changes in the state of the plasma associated with the Io torus are suggested, with the period of Voyager 1 encounter represented as a time of unusually high plasma temperature and/or density. Dynamic models of the sodium cloud employing Voyager 1 plasma data provide a reasonable fit to the Table Mountain encounter images. The modeling assumptions of anisotropic ejection of neutral sodium atoms from the leading, inner hemisphere of Io with a velocity distribution characteristic of sputtering adequately explain the overall intensity distribution of the “near cloud”. During the Voyager 1 encounter period there appeared a region of enhanced intensity projecting outward from Io's orbit and inclined to the orbital plane. This region is clearly distinguished from the sodium emission normally aligned with the plane of Io's orbit. The process responsible for this phenomenon is not yet understood. Similar but less pronounced features are also present in several Table Mountain images obtained over the past few years.     

Io's surface composition based on reflectance spectra of sulfur/salt mixtures and proton-irradiation experiments

The available full-disk reflectance spectra of Io in the range 0.3 to 2.5 μm have been interpreted by comparison with new laboratory spectra of a wide variety of natural and synthetic mineral phases in order to determine a surface compositional model for Io that is consistent with Io's other known chemical and physical properties. Our results indicate that the dominant mineral phases are sulfates and free sulfur derived from them, which points toward a low temperature and initially water-rich surface assemblage. Our current preferred mineral phase mixture that best matches the Io data and is simultaneously most consistent with other constraints, consists of a fine-grained particulate mixture of free sulfur (55 vol%), dehydrated bloedite [Na₂Mg(SO₄)₂·xH₂O] (30 vol%) ferric sulfate [Fe₂(SO₄)₃·xH₂O] (15 vol%), and trace amounts of hematite [Fe₂O₃]. Other salts may be present, such as halite and sodium nitrate, as well as clay minerals. Such a model is consistent with a probable pre- and post-accretion thermal history of Io-forming material and Io's observed Na emission and other properties. These results further support the evaporite surface hypothesis of Fanale et al'; while not precluding the presence of certain silicate phases such as montmorillonite.The average surface of Io's leading hemisphere appears to contain less free sulfur and more salts and to be finer grained than that of the trailing hemisphere. Since Io is immersed in Jupiter's magnetosphere, irradiation damage effects from low-energy proton bombardment were studied. Irradiation damage of lattices is estimated to be a relatively minor but operative process on the surface of Io; irradiation darkening by sulfate reduction to free sulfur and by F-center production in salts may be partly responsible for the differences in albedo of leading and trailing hemispheres and equatorial and polar regions of Io, but slight regional differences in relative intrinsic phase concentration on the surface may likewise account for these global variations in albedo.Possible unusual surface properties predicted by this model include: posteclipse darkening in certain wavelenghts, limb brightening in certain wavelengths, and unusual surface electrical properties. Further refinement of Io's surface composition model and better understanding of surface irradiation effects will be possible when observational data in the range 0.20 to 0.30 μm are obtained and when improved spectra in the range 0.30 to 5.0 μm are obtained having increased spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution.     

Io's 4-μm band and the role of adsorbed SO2

The role of adsorbed SO₂ on Io's surface particles in producing the observed spectral absorption band near 4 μm in Io's reflectance spectrum is explored. Calculations show that a modest 50% monolayer coating of adsorbed SO₂ molecules on submicron grains of sulfur of alkali sulfide, assumed to make up Io's uppermost optical surface (“radialith”), will result in a ν₁ + ν₃ absorption band near 4 μm with depth ～30% below the adjacent continuum, consistent with the observed strength of the Io band. The precise wavelength position of the ν₁ + ν₃ band of SO₂ in different phase states such as frost, ice, adsorbate, and gas are summarized from the experimental literature and compared with the available telescopic measurements of the Io band position. The results suggest that the 4-μm band in Io's full disk spectrum can best be explained by the presence on Io's surface of widespread SO₂ in the form of adsorbate rather than ice or frost.     

Short-term variability of Jupiter’s extended sodium nebula

Ground-based optical observations of D₁ and D₂ line emissions from Jupiter’s sodium nebula, which extend over several hundreds of jovian radii, were carried out at Mt. Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii using a wide field filter imager from May 19 to June 21, 2007. During this observation, the east-west asymmetry of the nebula with respect to the Io’s orbital motion was clearly identified. Particularly, the D₁+D₂ brightness on the western side of Jupiter is strongly controlled by the Io phase angle. The following scenario was developed to explain this phenomenon as follows: First, more ionospheric ions like NaX⁺, which are thought to produce fast neutral sodium atoms due to a dissociative recombination process, are expected to exist in Io’s dayside hemisphere rather than in the nightside one. Second, it is expected that more NaX⁺ ionospheric ions are picked up by the jovian co-rotating magnetic field when Io’s leading hemisphere is illuminated by the Sun. Third, the sodium atom ejection rate varies with respect to Io’s orbital position as a result of the first two points. Model simulations were performed using this scenario. The model results were consistent with the observation results, suggesting that Io’s ionosphere is expected to be controlled by solar radiation just like Earth.     

Thermal structure of the Jovian plasmasphere

An equation of heat transport in the Jovian magnetosphere is formulated and solved in the L range between 2 and 7. Sources of thermal energy include the heating associated with inward radial diffusion and a hypothetical heat supply originating from Io's dynamo action. The principal sink of the thermal energy is charge exchange in Io's hydrogen torus. In order to explain the density and temperature profile reported by Frank et al. (1976), the presence of the heat source at Io is essential and the density of the torus hydrogen has to be considerably lower than the value inferred from L_α observations by Carlson and Judge (1975). Radial diffusion represents the principal heating mechanism for plasma at very low L values.     

Mass-injection rate from Io into the Io plasma torus

Theoretical arguments have been presented to the effect that both plasma and energy are supplied to the Jovian magnetosphere primarily from internal sources. If we assume that Io is the source of plasma for the Jovian magnetosphere and that outward flow of plasma from the torus is the means of drawing from the kinetic energy of rotation of Jupiter to drive magnetospheric phenomena, we can obtain a new, independent estimate of the rate of mass injection from Io into the Io plasma torus. We explicitly assume the solar wind supplies neither plasma nor energy to the Jovian magnetosphere in significant amounts. The power expended by the Jovian magnetosphere is supplied by torus plasma falling outward through the corotational-centrifugal-potential field. A lower limit to the rate of mass injection into the torus, which on the average must equal the rate of mass loss from the torus, is therefore derivable if we adopt a value for the power expended to drive the various magnetospheric phenomena. This method yields an injection rate of at least 10³ kg/sec, a value in agreement with the results obtained by two other independent methods of estimating mass injection rate. If this injection rate from Io and extraction of energy from Jupiter's kinetic energy of rotation has been maintained over geologic time, then approximately 0.1% of Io's mass (principally in the form of sulfur and oxygen) has been lost to the Jovian magnetosphere, and Jupiter's spin rate has been reduced by less than 0.1%.     

Visible spectral reflectance measurements (0.33–1.1 μm) of the Galilean satellites at many orbital phase angles

One hundred eighty-seven reflectance spectra (0.33–1.10 μm) of the Galilean satellites have been obtained. Solar phase angle color correction coefficients were derived and the spectra corrected to a solar phase of 6°. Solar phase angle coefficients beyond 0.55 μm are presented for the first time. The spectra as a function of orbital phase angle are presented in the form of images to display hemispheric spectral variations. Io and Europa are redder on their trailing hemispheres while Callisto is redder on its leading hemisphere. Ganymede shows small longitudinal color variations despite the complex albedo structure visible in Voyager images. Comparisons of these data with previous measurements reveal that most differences can be attributed to the solar calibration. Reflectance measurements of Io at 0.73 μm observed 8.5 years apart show a 6% global reflectance decrease. However, it is difficult to unambigously attribute this particular decrease in reflectance to a change in Io's surface composition.     

Search for color changes and brightening of Io upon eclipse reappearance

Medium-resolution spectra were made of Io as it emerged from two eclipses in December 1975. In the wavelength range 4000–5800 Å, no spectral changes greater than the standard deviations were observed when the spectrum of Io just after reappearance was divided by the spectrum of Io 20 min later. No substantial increase in total brightness was observed over the same time interval. These observations were made at a time when the sub-Earth point was in Io's northern hemisphere; therefore, prediction of positive posteclipse brightening in this circumstance is not confirmed.     

How to compare the surface of Io to laboratory samples

Since one does not know the photometric functions of various parts of Io, one cannot convert the observed geometric albedo of the satellite to a parameter more directly measurable in the laboratory. One must therefore convert laboratory reflectances to geometric albedos before quantitative comparisons between Io's surface and a laboratory sample are made. This procedure involves determining the wavelength dependence of the sample's photometric function. For substances such as sulfur, whose reflectance varies strongly with wavelength, it is incorrect to assume that the photometric function, and hence the ratio (laboratory reflectance/geometric albedo) is independent of wavelength. To illustrate this point, measurements of the color dependence of this ratio for sulfur are presented for the specific case in which the measured laboratory reflectance is the sample's normal reflectance. In general, unless the laboratory reflectance is precisely the geometric albedo, a wavelength-dependent correction factor must be determined before the laboratory sample can be compared quantitatively with Io's surface.     

A search for emission features in Io's extended cloud

If sputtering provides the sodium in Io's extended cloud, then other elements abundant in Io's surface layer should also be present in this cloud. We present spectra in the range from 3100 Å to 8700 Å of a portion of this cloud where Io's scattered continuum is weak but where the sodium emission is still strong. Aluminum and calcium are found to be underabundant relative to sodium. Upper limits are set to some other cosmically abundant elements. In addition, we detected the 10 830 Å feature over various parts of the cloud but found it to have an intensity comparable to that observed elsewhere in the night sky. There is no indication that helium emission brighter than 200 Rayleighs occurs from the cloud itself.     

Sulfur dioxide on Io: Spatial distribution and physical state

Observations of the 4-μm SO₂ band on Jupiter's satellite Io and laboratory measurements of SO₂ frost are presented. The observations confirm the existence of a large longitudinal variation in band strength but show no evidence of temporal changes. Comparison of the band position and shape in Io's spectrum with those in the laboratory frost's suggests that the bulk of the absorption on Io is due to frost, not adsorbed gas. The derived SO₂ coverage is large enough to require that SO₂ be present in most terrain types on Io and not just in the white plains unit. To reconcile the infrared observations that indicate large amounts of SO₂ with the ultraviolet observations of Voyager and IUE that show little, the SO₂ must be mixed intimately with the sulfur (or other material) so that at each wavelength the darker component dominates the spectrum.     

Possible correlation of Io's posteclipse brightening with major solar flares

In 6 of the 7 instances where posteclipse brightening of Io has been reported by observers using blue filters, a major solar flare occurred within 10° of the sub-Jovian longitude in the 100-day interval prior to observation. In none of the 18 instances where no posteclipse brightening was observed did such a flare occur. It is proposed that a phenomenon associated with a major solar flare causes an increase in the trapped particle flux at Io's orbit by an order of magnitude. The posteclipse brightening may be caused by thermoluminescence of Io's surface material upon emergence. Alternatively, it is possible that the increase in trapped particle flux would warm the surface, creating a temporary atmosphere which would precipitate during eclipse cooling and vaporize in the period of warming after reemergence.     

Io: Heat flow from dark volcanic fields

Dark flow fields on the jovian satellite Io are evidence of current or recent volcanic activity. We have examined the darkest volcanic fields and quantified their thermal emission in order to assess their contribution to Io’s total heat flow. Loki Patera, the largest single source of heat flow on Io, is a convenient point of reference. We find that dark volcanic fields are more common in the hemisphere opposite Loki Patera and this large scale concentration is manifested as a maximum in the longitudinal distribution (near ∼200 °W), consistent with USGS global geologic mapping results. In spite of their relatively cool temperatures, dark volcanic fields contribute almost as much to Io’s heat flow as Loki Patera itself because of their larger areal extent. As a group, dark volcanic fields provide an asymmetric component of ∼5% of Io’s global heat flow or ∼5 × 10¹² W.     

Mapping of the sodium emission associated with Io and Jupiter

The sodium D-lines are observed in emission in a disklike distribution surrounding Io and extending outward in the orbital plane of the Galilean satellites to at least 23 R_J from Jupiter. A scale length for the sodium emission cloud in the orbital plane and the thickness of the sodium disk perpendicular to the orbital plane are determined. Weak D-line emission is also detected over the poles of Jupiter. Estimates of the apparent emission rates are derived from microdensitometer scans of the spectrograms as a function of position in the satellite orbital plane and perpendicular to the orbital plane. No other emission lines were detected down to a limit of ～50 R over the spectral range from 3500 Å to 9000 Å.     

Near-infrared spectra of the Galilean satellites: Observations and compositional implications

We have obtained reflectivity spectra of the trailing and leading sides of all four Galilean satellites with circular variable filter wheel spectrometers operating in the 0.7- to 5.5-μm spectral interval. These observations were obtained at an altitude of 41,000 ft from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. Features seen in these data include a 2.9-μm band present in the spectra of both sides of Callisto; the well-known 1.5-μm and 2.0-μm combination bands and the previously more poorly defined 3.1-μm fundamental of water ice observed in the spectra of both sides of Europa and Ganymede; and features centered at 1.35 ± 0.1, 2.55 ± 0.1, and 4.05 ± 0.05 μm noted in the spectra of both sides of Io. In an effort to interpret these data, we have compared them with laboratory spectra as well as synthetic spectra constructed with a simple multiple-scattering theory. We attribute the 2.9-μm feature of Callisto's spectra primarily to bound water, with the product of fractional abundance of bound water and mean grain radius in micrometers equaling approximately 3.5 × 10^?1 for both sides of the satellite. The fractional amounts of water ice cover on the trailing side of Ganymede, its leading side, and the leading side of Europa were found to be 50 ± 15, 65 ± 15, and 85% or greater, respectively. The bare ground areas on Ganymede have reflectivity properties in the 0.7- to 2.5-μm spectral region comparable to those of Callisto's surface and also have significant quantities of bound water, as does Callisto. Interpretation of the spectrum for the trailing side of Europa is complicated by magnetospheric particle bombardment which causes a perceptible broadening of strong bands, but the ice cover on this side is probably comparable to that on the leading side. These irradiation effects may be responsible for much of the difference in the visual geometric albedos of the two sides of Europa. Minor, but significant, amounts of ferrous-bearing material (either ferrous salts or alkali feldspars but not olivines or pyroxenes) account for the 1.35-μm feature of Io. The two longer wavelength bands are most likely attributable to nitrate salts. Ferrous salts and nitrates can jointly also account for much of the spectral variation in Io's visible reflectivity, thereby eliminating the need to postulate large quantities of sulfur. The absence of noticeable features near 3-μm wavelength in Io's spectra leads to upper bounds of 10% on the fractional cover of water and ammonia ice and 10^?3 on the relative abundance of bound water and hydroxylated material on Io. The two sides of Io have similar compositions. We suggest that the systematic increase in fractional water ice cover from Callisto to Ganymede to Europa is bought about by variations in efficiencies of recoating the satellite's surface by interior water brought to the surface, and by the deposition of extrinsic dust. The most important component of the latter is debris, derived from the outer irregular satellites of Jupiter, which impacts the Galilean satellites at relatively low velocities. Europa has the largest water ice cover because its crust is thinnest and thus the frequency of water recoating is the greatest, and because it is farthest from the sources of low-velocity dust. While models which depict Io's surface as consisting primarily of very fine-grained ice are no longer viable, we are unable to definitively distinguish between the salt assemblage and alkali feldspar models. The salt model can better account for Io's reflectivity spectrum from 0.3 to 5 μm, but the absence of appreciable quantities of bound water and hydroxylated material may not be readily understood within the context of that model.     

The sodium and hydrogen gas clouds of Io

Models are developed to describe the spatial distribution of gases emitted by Io and are applied to recent observations which indicate extensive gas clouds of hydrogen and sodium in orbit around Jupiter. Hydrogen and sodium atoms are emitted from Io with velocities in the range 2 to 3 km sec^?1, with fluxes of about 10¹⁰ and 10⁸cm^?2sec^?1 for hydrogen and sodium respectively. Hydrogen atoms may be formed by photodecomposition of gases such as NH₃ or H₂S released from the satellite surface and may escape thermally from an exosphere whose temperature is about 500 K. Sodium may be ejected from the surface by energetic particles or by ultraviolet radiation and it appears that a non-thermal mechanism drawing energy from Jupiter's magnetic field is required in order to account for its release to space.