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| Paper: |
Chandra HRC Observations of X-rays from the Jupiter System (abstract only) |
| Volume: |
262, The High Energy Universe at Sharp Focus: Chandra Science |
| Page: |
19 |
| Authors: |
Waite, J. H., Jr. |
| Abstract: |
In support of the Cassini fly-by of Jupiter, the Chandra X-ray Observatory's High Resolution Camera (HRC) was used to observe the Jovian system for a complete rotation of Jupiter on December 18, 2000, from 10-20 UT. The HRC is most sensitive to X-rays in the 0.1-10 keV range, with a peak sensitivity in the 1-1.5 keV range, and is a direct descendant of the imagers on the Einstein and ROSAT satellites. Chandra differs from other X-ray observatories primarily by virtue of it's remarkable 0.5'' half-power PSF, which provides ten times the acuity of its nearest rival. Preliminary analysis of the December 18 data has yielded the following results: 1) a strong, high-latitude northern auroral ``hot spot, which is relatively fixed near 60-70 degrees north latitude and 160-180 degrees system III longitude, and which pulsates with a period of about 40 minutes and has an average emitted poser of about 1 GW; 2) relatively uniform low-latitude emissions, with total power output of about 2 GW; 3) the first detection of X-ray emissions from the Io Plasma Torus, with a dusk/dawn brightness ratio of about 2.2 and a total emitted power of about 0.06 GW. These power estimates are based on an assumed emission wavelength of 653 eV (corresponding to the Lyman alpha line of OVIII ions), and is subject to revision as Chandra spectra of Jupiter are analyzed further. We will present these and other results from this unique data set. |
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